Contacts: Contacts: Steven Loy, (818) 677-3220
Mayerene Barker, (818) 677-2130
The program, "LAFD Fit," developed at no cost to the city, is being implemented at all 104 Los Angeles Fire Department stations. It is being introduced jointly to recognize the "unique cooperative and winning connection" established between two public entities, CSUN and the Fire Department, said Steven Loy, LAFD wellness coordinator and the CSUN kinesiology professor who heads the program.
"We believe that this model of two public institutions working together and sharing resources to this extent is unique and remarkable," Loy said. "The projects completed in a short time have been significant and valuable."
In addition to designing special cardiovascular exercises for firefighters, CSUN students and faculty created an exercise training video for the LAFD and designed a wellness program for LAFD civilian employees.
"This unique partnership with the Los Angeles Fire Department is a perfect example of the universityıs commitment to becoming involved in all segments of the community. Since I arrived on campus, I have been amazed at how integral a role CSUN plays in the surrounding community," said CSUN President Jolene Koester, who took office in July.
Fifteen CSUN kinesiology students have been involved in developing the program and will be receiving their Master of Science degrees as a result of completing thesis projects in conjunction with the LAFD project. They also addressed the high incidence of back injuries among firefighters and documented the LAFD light duty program in an effort to enhance work productivity and decrease workersı compensation costs.
As part of todayıs program at Fire Station 70 in Northridge, Fire Chief William Bamattre will present the students and 10 participating faculty members with certificates of appreciation for their efforts. Also participating in the ceremony are Koester, Fire Commission President David Fleming, Los Angeles City Councilmember Hal Bernson and Shannon Beatty, a wellness specialist with Washington Mutual Bank and one of the CSUN students who helped develop the program.
Battalion Chief Richard Kampff, who heads the LAFD wellness effort, said that even after only a few months, fire department personnel are healthier and more fit. "Itıs incredible," he said. "Thereıs such a positive change. This is such a marvelous sharing of public resources."
CSUN and LAFD officials said they hope to expand the program within the department, as well as possibly to other city departments and even to the public. Kampff said the LAFD intends to distribute material containing wellness and exercise techniques developed by CSUN to the public.
"The intent of establishing this winning connection was to maximize the benefits of the CSUN-LAFD relationship by creating programs that would not only serve the members of the LAFD, but also the 3.5 million people the LAFD serves," Loy said.
He said the CSUN model also can easily be applied to the public-private sector and can be duplicated with a diversity of community institutions. "In a time when there is a great competition for resources, it is important to maximize what we have," Loy said. "The potential of involving other university departments and their faculty and students is significant and as this winning connection demonstrates, is very possible."
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