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Firefighter Nutrition

 

Nutrition is a critical part of the health and safety of wildland fire suppression personnel. This is the fuel for the body to perform the work and maintain cognitive abilities. Wildland firefighters on the fireline need 4,000 to 6,000 calories a day to avoid an energy deficit. 

Consider the following key points when choosing your meal:

  • There are three major energy sources in food: carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
  • Carbohydrates (also called sugar) offer an immediate source of energy for your body. They provide the fuel for your muscles and organs, such as your brain.
  • Proteins are the basic building blocks of the human body. They are made up of amino acids that help build muscles, blood, skin, hair, nails, and internal organs.
  • Fat is an essential nutrient that provides energy, energy storage, insulation, and contour to the body.
  • National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) recommends eating 150 to 200 kcals every two hours during the work shift to maintain blood glucose and energy levels.  

Carbohydrates:

  • Studies on athletes have shown that carbohydrates are the most critical energy source for performance and health.
  • Carbohydrates are your body’s first choice for fuel. If given a choice of several types of foods simultaneously, your body will use the energy from carbohydrates first.
  • If you do not eat enough carbohydrates, the following can occur:
    • Fatigue.
    • Muscle cramps.
    • Poor mental function.
  • Fire camp lunches are designed to allow firefighters small amounts of food (primarily carbohydrates) that can be easily eaten throughout the work shift.

Discussion Points:

How are you eating your fire lunch? Is it all at once or in small amounts throughout the day? Think of long-duration events (ultra runs, triathlons). Do athletes stop for a big meal or eat small amounts constantly throughout the race?

 

This topic was submitted by Joe Domitrovich, Ph.D., Exercise Physiologist, Missoula Technology and Development Center. 

 

 

Category
Firefighter Health First Aid
References
Eating for Health and Performance (web presentation)
MTDC Tech Tip on Nutrition (2007)
NWCG Fitness and Work Capacity, PMS 304-2, Ch 10


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NWCG Latest Announcements

2024 Week of Remembrance

Date: June 27, 2024
Contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee 

As we approach the 2024 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30 to July 6, we dedicate this time to thoughtfully reviewing and recognizing the events of the 2018 Mendocino Complex. As such, this year’s theme of “Learning From the Mendocino Complex” embodies a longstanding hallmark of WOR, honoring through learning.

Throughout the week, our energy will be directed toward fostering generative conversations in briefing rooms and at tailgates.

References:

6 Minutes for Safety - 2024 Week of Remembrance

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Updated NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Date: June 24, 2024
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee 

The June 2024 update of the NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236, is now available to meet the current needs for incident management typing.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment should be used to evaluate firefighter safety issues, assess risk, and identify the appropriate incident management organization based on incident complexity. Assessing risk, determining incident complexity, and identifying an appropriate incident management organization is a subjective process based on examining a combination of indicators or factors, which can change over time.

References:

NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Operations Branch Director (OPBD) Next Gen PTB Available

Date: June 10, 2024
Contact: NWCG Feedback 

The NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Branch Director (OPBD), PMS 311-109 is now available for use within the OPBD position qualification pathway. As part of the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), the OPBD Next Gen PTB was developed and the position qualification pathway updated.

More information about the Next Gen PTB format can be found on the NWCG Position Task Book webpage.

References:

Operations Branch Director Position Page

Operations Branch Director Next Gen PTB

NWCG Position Task Books

Updated NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902

Date: June 5, 2024
Contact: NWCG Incident Business Committee 

The 2024 revision of the NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902 is now available. The uniform application of interagency incident business management standards is critical to interagency fire operations. PMS 902 assists NWCG agencies in constructively working together to provide effective execution of each agency's incident business management program.

References:

PMS 902