As a firefighter, you know that the simple act of carrying something—a saw, your medic bag, a patient—can be a workout. But are you incorporating carries into your actual workouts?
The carry is such an obvious exercise that we sometimes forget to use it. But it’s one of the best weight-training exercises for firefighters because it works your core, improves stabilization, and builds grip strength. Perhaps most important, it mimics fireground movements that frequently result in slips and falls or injuries such as pulled muscles.
In this quick video, Aaron Zamzow, a firefighter with Madison (WI) Fire Department and founder of Fire Rescue Fitness, explains how and when to incorporate the carry into your gym workouts and the benefits you’ll experience when you do.
Check out these additional essential exercises for firefighters:
Core Exercises for Firefighters: The Plank
Strength-Training Exercises for Firefighters: The Goblet Squat
Conditioning Exercises for Firefighters: The Burpee
