The other day I had a very interesting conversation with a co-worker about escaping from danger. Actually she thought my ideas where interesting.
“I really need to go on a diet to lose some weight. I need to get healthier so I can play with my grandchildren without needing a nap afterwards,” said my co-worker.
“You know, being thin and being in shape is not the same thing. I’ve bowled with several overweight people who can throw 18-20 pounds like it is nothing for an hour. And I’ve known thin people who cannot even walk up 3 flight of stairs without looking like they are going to pass out,” I said.
“That’s true,” said my co-worker, nodding.
“I need a nap every day and my toddler is in daycare most of the day,” I said. “The way I see it, I only need to be fit enough to escape danger.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if a co-worker shows up with a gun, I want to be fast enough to be a moving target. If the house is on fire, I want to be strong enough to grab my toddler and climb out the window. If my husband faints in the middle of the street, I want to be able to drag him a few feet to safety,” I said.
“If my husband faints, I‘ll call someone,” said my co-worker. “There is no way I can drag him. I am 68 years old.”
“You might not be able to drag him, but I am sure you can roll him. Move his hands up or down to his sides and roll him like a log out of immediate danger. Never say never. You don’t know how strong you are until you are facing danger. But I like to have the odds on my side by keeping myself in shape,” I said.
“I’m too old to get into that kind of shape,” said my co-worker.
“Think of it this way, even if you have rescue workers coming to help, sometimes they might be able to reach you. But if you are strong enough to crawl a few feet, it can make a difference on how long you stay in a trapped situation. And you are not competing with anyone. You just need to be stronger than you were last year or at least not lose ground.”
“This is a very interesting conversation. I never think about my health in terms before,” said my co-worker.
“Just keep it in mind next year when you are bored with retirement. A great way to fill up your time is a long walk at the park,” I said with a cheery wave.
What do you think? Are you fit enough to escape danger? Are you fit enough to help others help you?
Until next time and thanks for stopping by Small Steps to Health.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is one of the reasons that I feel certain physical criteria need to be used for people who need to physically help others in their jobs, such as flight attendants, EMTs, police, and firefighters, for example.
Dr J,
I am continually surprised by how many rescue workers are overweight themselves. While I don’t expect them to be model perfect, but a healthy weight would inspire more confidence for me, especially in an emergency situation.