Fit First Responders Local Gym's Mission

A local gym is stepping up to get area first responders ready for the demands of their jobs.

The non-profit group has the mayor and police chief singing its praises.

Fit First Responders is a local non-profit geared at getting police, firefighters and paramedics in shape and ready for the challenges of their day.

Strength and agility are two things first responders need on the job.

Heather Weakley and her husband David are both Tulsa Police officers and have always tried to stay in shape for their careers, but hadn't found the right work out until now.

"It is nerve-wracking both being on the job and knowing what can happen," Heather said.

She has first-hand experience with that. She injured her shoulder while making an arrest on a simple complaint call that got out of hand.

"When I tried to put her in handcuffs she became resistive and combative and in the process I injured my shoulder," Heather explained.

It's situations like Heather's that coach JC said is hoping to get first responders ready for.

“They deal with an immense level of stress, as you can imagine, the tasks that they do. So it's crucially important for them to be physically fit and mentally fit," he said.

That's why each workout is geared specifically towards their needs.

"Some of the exercises and the movements that they have us doing here, you know, are in direct correlation to stuff we actually do out there on the job. You know, simple stuff, as to getting out of the car and engaging in a full dead sprint, you know, chasing after a suspect," David said.

"They're the guys and the gals that put their lives on the line every day, and our program is geared towards them, to serve them, and that's why the non-profit was created. It was created to serve those who serve us," the coach said.

It's a program the Weakley's said they're thankful for.

"So we want to make sure we're healthy, otherwise we're doing a disservice to the community and the citizens of Tulsa," David said.

This is actually the start of the programs 25 week challenge. They're inviting all first responders to join them.

You can learn more information online.