r/Firefighting • u/Fabulous_Narwhal3113 • 2d ago
Ask A Firefighter Is firefighting hard on your back?
If I’m considering it, and I have a slipped disc, is it over already?
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u/GabagoolFarmer Engineer / Paramedic 2d ago
yes it is hard on your back. All of your gear is close to 100lbs and you have to be able to operate for extended periods of time wearing it
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u/roberts585 1d ago
With a slipped disc you would really be setting yourself up for failure. You'll be bending and lifting all day and a lot of lifts are not "proper technique" friendly at all. Try getting a 350 pound patient unstuck from between a toilet and a wall without bending, twisting and contorting.
I'm not saying it's impossible, but dragging hose through a hoarder house and trying to maintain solid posture is very difficult
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u/Kooky-Package-1646 1d ago
Picking up old people off the ground is hard on the back
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u/JoeofReddit 1d ago
Haha right ! It’s worse when they’re from assisted living or memory unit because they can’t help you by boosting up with their legs sometimes. So it’s a big difference in weight.
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u/mexican_bear9 1d ago
Yes its hard on your back.
Proper lifting techniques and movement training(working out) will help.
While working out, focus on movement patterns rather than body parts and focus a lot on your back and torso.
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u/Ok_Situation1469 1d ago
As a career, probably yes as you need to be able to do everything and as others have said its a lot of gear you are putting on. There's more flexibility on the volunteer side where there are opportunities to slot into a role that is less likely to put as much stress on your back.
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u/bombero11 1d ago
Any job is hard on your back!
Doing proper exercises and maintaining a descent weight will help you.
Being functionally fit for the job is key. You do not need to have 0 body fat, you need body fat for protection within reason and for your body to burn at times.
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u/magicjeep 1d ago
Its definitely more difficult on you back but most of try to stand or crawl if its too hot.
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u/macpigem Former Antarctican 1d ago
Until they start shelling out money for ekoskeletons; I think you got the answer. There are two types of people in the Fire (and EMS service, imo) those who have back problems due to the job, and those who are going to get back problems on the job. It's all awkward heavy lifts. You try to lift carefully but sometimes bad lifts happen.
If you still want to get involved; become a dispatcher. At least until A.I. takes that over.
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u/iambatmanjoe 1d ago
Just had back surgery. Core strength and stretching are keys to a healthy career. I did not take that seriously until now
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u/hosemonkey 1d ago
Yes it’s hard . However I have been operating for the last 3 years with a slipped disk. (17 years on the job) It’s an everyday chore. I have Mackenzie exercises, core exercises, posterior chain exercises, and a date with a lacrosse ball every day.
So as the others have said, yes it’s hard, but no it’s not impossible. You just have to answer the question for yourself if all that self maintenance if worth it. To me it is.
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u/dominator5k 1d ago
A slipped disc? Come on bro everybody in the universe has a slipped disc. Super common. Yes it is hard on your back
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u/CrazeMase 1d ago
You'll have roughly 65 pounds of gear covering your entire body. Lots of hinging your back for any rank or position. EMT is a no-go, lots of picking up people. Lifting anything up a ladder is strenuous. Even gear maintenance is hard on the back. You'd be setting yourself up for failure. If firefighting is your end-all-be-all, consider something more domestic in fire science instead. You'd basically guarantee a life long injury, but you can definitely be a dispatcher, city inspector, or spokesperson. Saving lives doesn't mean it needs to be exclusively hands on.
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u/ZalinskyAuto 1d ago
If a friend of mine told me they have a slipped disc and they were considering a career in the fire service I would tell them to find something different to do.
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u/HellaHotRocks 2d ago
Yes.