Mike Meadors

Background

Mike is a member of the Surprise Fire-Medical Department, in Arizona, where he serves as a ladder Captain at station 305. He has been with the department since 2011, and is a member of United Pheonix Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 493. He is also the department’s Peer Fitness Coordinator, a role he has held for over a decade. In this role, he is responsible for managing and overseeing a team of Peer Fitness Trainers (PFTs), as well as assisting in the physical preparation of recruits at the fire academy. Mike is very active in the department outside of these roles, holding the positions of Hiring Co-Chair, Charities Trustee, and Union Trustee, as well as serving on the Training Committee. He joined the PFT instructor cadre in 2020, and continues to enjoy growing as an instructor and learning more about the new Fit to Thrive (F2T) program. Fitness and nutrition are things that Mike is very passionate about, so he truly relishes the ability to teach and instruct his fellow fire fighters on these topics. The thing that he enjoys most about working with fire fighters is attending to the challenges inherent to addressing the fitness and wellness needs of individuals working in such a dynamic, multi-dimensional environment. Mike finds confronting these challenges stimulating, rewarding, and fun!

Activity Habits

Life outside of the fire service consists of enjoying as much family and friends time as possible. On Mike’s days off, he can be found doing some form of physical activity with his wife and two kids. Staying active for the Meadors family is a lifestyle, and it seems like they are always on the move; something which most fire fighters can related to! Both Mike’s children are involved in sports and any time not spent being physically active is dedicated to their academic development. He and his wife also enjoy travelling, and providing their family with memorable and fun experiences. Personally, Mike keeps up a very regular training schedule, weight training 5 days a week, completing skill courses 2 days a week, and doing some form of cardiovascular activity 2 days a week. Over the last two years he and his wife have built a nice home gym, and they enjoying training in the space when the kids are at school.

Mike’s motivation to be active has evolved over the course of his life and career. Upon joining the fire service his motivation stemmed from being a good fire fighter, and an asset to his crew, and to his department. Since having a family, and moving along in his career, Mike sees physical activity as a way to continue to support his crew and department, but also as a means by which to enjoy a long and healthy retirement with his family. Although life can get very busy between work and family obligations, and at times these demands can press up against Mike’s exercise objectives, he has learned to frame these as challenges that can be adapted to, rather than outright barriers. For example, building a home gym has been a way Mike and his wife have adapted their environment to support their life health and fitness goals.

Perspectives on F2T and fire fighter wellness and fitness

In Mike’s opinion, the F2T program is unique because it really puts the member and their families first. Fire fighting is a dangerous profession, and although some of the hazards fire fighters face are unavoidable, there is strong evidence which suggests that being physically active and staying fit can protect fire fighters against negative health outcomes. This is probably best highlighted by the protective affects physical activity and exercise can have against the cancers that are all too common among fire service personnel. Mike wants fire fighters to know that the program can help save fire fighter lives and it is built to help members prolong their retirements so they can enjoy the time they have earned in the service of others.

The one word Mike would use to describe the value of wellness and fitness for fire fighters is pivotal. Efforts to develop resilient physical activity and exercise behaviors among fire service personnel extended beyond the individual, and towards making a culture shift within the service itself. He would advise fire fighters thinking about investing in their wellness and fitness that staying fit and healthy is the best way to prolong their careers and to enjoy and long and healthy retirement. It is never too late to start.