Vincennes, Indiana - May 2005
Located in Knox County in southwestern Indiana, Vincennes is a city of firsts. It is Indiana's oldest city, originally founded as a French fur trading outpost in 1732. In Indiana, it is part of the first organized county (1790), boasts the first Catholic Church (1749), first newspaper (1799), first Presbyterian church (1806), first bank (1814), and first medical society (1817). Vincennes also features the George Rogers Clark Memorial, the largest monument of its type outside of Washington D.C. and Vincennes University, the oldest institute of higher education west of the Alleghenies and north of the Ohio River. William Henry Harrison became its first governor and then went on to become America's ninth president.

Fire Department Involved in Community
The 41-member Vincennes Fire Department participates in a number of community charity events including benefits for the American Cancer Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the United Way. For pre-school through middle-school-aged children, the Department provides fire prevention activities through their "Day at the Firehouse" program every September and Fire Prevention Month in October.

Grant Success Supports Growth
The Department has had good success over the years at procuring USFA grants to support their initiatives. In 2001, the USFA was specifically seeking to support fire departments who were wanting to introduce new programs for their personnel. This fit in well with Departmental goals as they were seeking to initiate a wellness- fitness program. They ultimately received a grant that enabled them to introduce a physical evaluation program and outfit their four stations with fitness equipment.

They received another USFA grant in 2003 which, among other things, led to a new exhaust hose system in all four stations and a turn-out gear washer. Yet another USFA grant was awarded in 2004. This time they used the funds to develop an investigative team and an inspection pre-planning team to identify potential hazards in their community buildings.

Additionally, they expanded their medical evaluation program and sent Assistant Chief Kelly Updike for certification to become a Peer Fitness Trainer. The certification, endorsed by the IAFF and IAFC, seeks to identify firefighters who have demonstrated knowledge and skills required to design and implement fitness programs, improve the wellness and fitness of their departments, and assist in the physical training of recruits.

In conjunction with their annual physicals in March, the Department introduced a voluntary weight loss/body fat contest that will run for 6 months. Twenty-eight members signed up to win one of the three top prizes, including a weekend for two to a St. Louis Cardinals game.

Healthy Personnel is Goal
Fire Chief Joseph Yochum says one of his goals is "to get everyone a little bit healthier, especially in preparation for retirement." Chief Updike adds, "If you do good things for your employees and show that you care, morale will go up, leading to better productivity." By having access to a summary aggregate report of personnel medical findings, the Department is able to monitor progress and changes year to year, facilitating appropriate interventions for the Department as a whole. Chief Yochum encourages departments to apply for a grant to get a medical evaluation program started. Introducing a wellness program can be a challenge. "Try and get new personnel started from day one to create a new culture," he suggests.

Click here for the Vincennes Fire Department newsletter article.

For more information on the City of Vincennes, visit online by clicking here.

© 2006 Public Safety Medical Services