Why More Firefighters Die From Stress Than Fire—and Why You’re at Risk, Too

When you imagine the most athletic "real men" who haven't spent their lives training for the NFL or the Olympics, there is a good chance you think of police officers, soldiers, or firefighters. Whether in combat or rushing through burning homes wearing between 45 and 75 pounds of gear, these men and women are some of the world’s most elite athletes, oftentimes without being recognized as such.

For firefighters in particular, the job requires conditioning well beyond a standard rucking workout.