Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item _1__



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

05/03/2005



Agenda Report # 76



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program



INITIATED BY: Columbus Fire and EMS Department

_______________________________________________________________________________



Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved

accept a grant of $138,000 from the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant

Program.

Background: Funds have been allocated to the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters

Grant Program to improve the physical fitness of department members.

The Columbus Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services requests

$138,000 to purchase physical fitness equipment and train two additional peer

fitness trainers for the department. The equipment and training will be

utilized to provide for a monitored in-station physical fitness training

program for Fire/EMS personnel.

Health and wellness issues are the number one cause of line of duty firefighter

fatalities throughout the fire service. Effective firefighter wellness programs

are a key effort in reducing loss of life, and will help reduce the

unacceptable number of line of duty deaths.

According to USFA, in 2004, 110 on-duty firefighters died in the line-of-duty.

Stress and overexertion, usually resulting in heart attacks, continued to be

the leading cause of fatal injury, accounting for over half of the fatalities.

This equipment and training along with a mandatory physical fitness program

that is monitored on a continued basis will insure that the Department?s

personnel will have the adequate level of fitness to safely and effectively

perform their duties.

Analysis: The requested funding will be utilized to purchase 1 treadmill, 1

stationary bicycle, 1 rower and 1 weight station for each of the 14 Fire/EMS

stations in Muscogee County. In addition, the Department will utilize requested

funds to train 2 additional peer fitness trainers to assist the trainer

currently employed with the department to monitor the fitness program



Financial Considerations: The grant is for $138,000 and requires a 32% match

($27,600). If the grant is funded the matching funds will be provided from

General Fund Contingency.



Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to

receive these funds.



Recommendation/Action: Authorize the City Manager to submit, and if approved.

accept a

grant of $138,000 from the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.