Current  events

Wellness course at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service

From 01 October to 03 October, 2002 an unusual course was held at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service. This time 12 fire-fighters listened with interest to the lectures about the principles of healthy and balanced lifestyle on the 'Training course for the introduction of wellness basic services' organised by the Wellness Koncept Ltd., which was worked out for the employees of high quality fitness gyms meeting the recommendations and quality requirements of the Hungarian Wellness Society.

What does 'wellness lifestyle' mean?
Wellness = physical-psychic wellness, that is harmony of healthy physical condition and psychic balance, which can be simply called overall good feeling.
Wellness has many 'special fields', for example nature- medicine, cosmetology, gastronomy, tourism, sports and so on. All the special fields have one thing in common; each of them considers human being as a complex unit, part of nature and tries to strengthen the harmony of body and psyche in all service fields, and apply more and more 'bio-' or natural techniques. (For instance using medical herbs in therapy; in cosmetology makes from herbs and minerals, aroma-therapy, and anti-stress massage; in gastronomy healthy chemical-free nutrition; in sports health-protective and not performance-centric exercises, and more and more methods applying mental techniques, such as yoga, tai-chi, stretching).

Sports activities according to the wellness philosophy aim at prevention and rehabilitation. All qualities are developed proportionally, harmoniously up to the ordinary man's level. The aim of trainings is always to work out and release stress.

The employees of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service studied the abovementioned theoretical principles and the adaptation of related practical knowledge during the three-day long intensive course. Practical training was assisted by the professional Techno Gym machines, which were available for everybody in the Fire Service gym.

The course included the following fields:

Sports and Wellness
· Wellness philosophy of life, importance of physical and psychic balance
· Differences between wellness and fitness/keep-fit gyms
· Aimed groups (over-forties, overweighed, rehabilitation and so on) and related special needs, exercises
· Characteristics of gyms and their equipment (for instance joints-saving, bio-mechanically appropriate machines, gradually programmable cardiologic equipment, testing corner with an option to print protocols
· Practice: interpretation and completion of 'Health declaration'

Testing physical condition
· Importance of fitness tests, importance of medical examinations in certain cases
· Strength tests: push-up, pull-up, hanging, front support, abdominal muscle tests, raise of centre of gravity
· Flexibility tests: flexibility in standing and sitting position, flexibility in both sides, shoulder turning, shoulder mobility
· Physical fitness, cardiologic test: Conconi test
· Basic concepts: pulse frequency, waking-up pulse and repose pulse, maximum pulse, cut-off point pulse, aerobic-anaerobic threshold limit, pulse target-zone calculations, Vo2max, rel. Vo2max, MET
· Practice: interpretation, completion of the 'Fitness condition questionnaire form', carrying-out fitness condition examination of the participants

Body consistence analysis
· The concept and calculation of BMI, evaluation
· Concept of body fats percentage, practising its measurement
· Practice: calculation of the ideal bodyweight with the help of 'TD diagram' for men and women

Cardio training
· The role and importance of warm-up
· Practice: carrying out Conconi-test, interpretation of test-protocol
· Cardio training plan in CPR mode for Technogym machines
· Working out various training plans for different machine types (karergometer, bicycle, ellipse walkway, running machine)

Training with weights
· Names, location and functions of muscle groups
· Apportionment of 2-, 3-, 4-day training plans, working out trainings
· Practice: completion of 'Training with weights' questionnaire form

Stretching
· The two components of flexibility: joints (R.O.M) and muscular (flexibility), their training possibilities and genetic limits
· Concept of active and passive flexibility
· Dynamic stretching and static stretching: which one to apply and when?
· The importance of regular stretching for different age groups
· Practice: stretching for the most important muscle groups

Nutrition
· Basic concepts: basic metabolism, daily energy-needs, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fibre, vitamins, minerals
· Most important characteristics of our macro- and micro-nutritives,
· Incorrect eating habits, false beliefs about diet
· Principles of healthy nutrition
· Calorie calculation, planning loosing or putting on weight
· Practice: completion of 'energy-needs' questionnaire form

The participants proved their preparedness in theoretical and practical questions in a four-hour long exam on 7 October after some days of preparation. Some of the participants passed the exam on a high level, achieving the sports-experts preparedness. The management of the Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service is planning to organise further courses annually to refresh and improve the employees' knowledge in order to maintain the efficiency of the acquired curriculum.

As the educational representative of Wellness Koncept Ltd, and the leader of the Quality Control Committee of Hungarian Wellness Society I congratulate the participants on their outstanding performance and wish further success in their work and good health.

Edit Dömötör
Course instructor

VIII. National and International Count Ödön Széchenyi Fire-fighter Competition, Paks 2002

The national fire-fighter competition, traditionally organised every second year, was held in Paks. The NPP Fire Service was invited, as usual in the last few years, to take part in the country-wide tournament, outside the category.
The competition was held on 21, 22, 23 June at the sports ground of the NPP.
On Friday afternoon, 21 June, stifling heat welcomed the competing teams, the 19 chosen county teams, the teams of the Capital City Fire-Service, and of the Airport Fire-Service, and also the teams of Russia, Romania, Slovenia and Croatia from the neighbouring countries. On the opening ceremony Tatár Attila, the deputy general director of the National Disaster Protection Department greeted the teams and opened the competition. The National Fire Service Orchestra and the local majorette dance group made the ceremony more colourful.
The tournament began next morning at 7 o'clock with the hook ladder and the hundred-meter single obstacle race events. We were fascinated to see again the swiftness and professionalism as the Russians competed in the hundred-meter obstacle race. Similarly, the hook ladder contest was really spectacular. Our team got the fifth place in the hundred-meter obstacle race; the individual best achievement was 21.32 seconds of Kovács István.
The low-power engine hose event began at 15 o'clock in the afternoon. It was made more difficult by the heat and a new rule, which was introduced this year and says that there is only one attempt to overcome the obstacles. The event had a good atmosphere, and our team got the second place behind the competitors of County Somogy.
The 4x100-meter relay race was held on Sunday morning. Our team had the lead for a while, but in the end they turned out to be the third behind the teams of the County Hajdú-Bihar and County Tolna.
The results indicate that our team did well and they stood their ground. It gave us a special pleasure that we could take part in the organisation of the competition, and we could assist to provide better performance with our technical means. In addition, by assisting in the preparation of the teams from County Somogy and County Tolna we could contribute to their remarkable success as well.
The members of our team were: József Szendi, the group leader; György Mihálovics, the coach, Ferenc Bán, László Hanol, István Kovács, János Lacza, Miklós Lengyel, Szilárd Papp, Rajmund Pesztericz, Tamás Szabó, Zoltán Szabó, Ferenc Széles.

Paks, 8 July 2002

Tóbi József
Training executive

Guide for the just published "Description and Explanation of the Professional Work and Rescuing by Rope-systems"

Today the factories and the applied technologies require the staff, who work and rescue there, to know how to escape and rescue. For the effective liquidation of damages happened in industrial circumstances the acquiring of the professional rope-technical knowledge has become essential requirement. Realising the importance of this rescuing method, our fire-service started the education of professional rope-technique on the elementary level in 1997. In 1998 we also started the intermediate and the rescuing by rope-system courses. This activity is not safe, so requires attention and specialist knowledge to a greater extent. To make assurance doubly sure it is very important to keep the rules and other regulations. Therefore in 2000 the Fire brigade of the Nuclear Power Station in Paks published the Inner Regulations of Safety Provisions for Rescuing by Rope-systems, and in 2002 we also published the Rope-technical Educational Handbook.
The aim of the just published educational handbook is giving help for the firemen in our nuclear power station is acquiring the rope-technical knowledge. It is not definitely an instructional book but it tries to give the educated firemen help in their work and keeping up with developments in their field.
Structurally it is based on the inner system and topics of rope-technical education. It gives an overall picture about the valid regulations and decrees for work and it also interprets with practical comments and completions. It conteins the technical guidelines and safety regulations of rescuing activity by rope-systems.
It includes the factual material for the qualification to rescue by ropes on elementary and intermediate level.
It deals with the equipment used during the rope-technical rescue. To make it easier to understand it contains illustrations, drawings and photos. A separate chapter deals with special knots needed.
Int he appendix the forms and documents relating to this activity can be found. They all suit the prescriptions.
This compilation is a stopgap among the printed materials in its theme. As it gives an overall picture of this subject, this handbook is a novelty in the field of rope-technical activity and education.
The writers think it is very important to emphasise that studying only this handbook is not enough, the practical knowledge instructed by the Alpin School Ltd is also needed for the safe activity.
We hope this compilation will help the work of instructed firemen effectively.

Péter Gaál
Higher Educated Expert os Work-Safety
Rope-technical Instructor

The Maintenance Training Centre (KGYK) is five years old

The Maintenance Training Centre, unique of its kind throughout the world, was opened five years ago, in April 1997. Originally, the facility was constructed for nuclear power plant personnel to get training, mainly for the experts working in the East European nuclear power plants to receive further education and experience. Nowadays experts are coming from all corners of the world not only to take part in further training courses but in working meetings and conferences as well. Therefore the Training Centre is playing more and more important part in the international nuclear life of the region.
On the fifth anniversary of the Maintenance Training Centre, on 17 May 2002, a celebration was organised with approximately 70 participants, among the invited guests with the deputy general director of IAEA, the ambassador of European Union, the general director of OAH, and the general director of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant present.
Due to the excellent relationship between the Maintenance Training Centre (KGYK) and the Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service for many years, -the training centre provides a regular scene for the alpine technique training courses-, we were asked to perform a Alpine technique demonstration. Rescue by rope-technique was carried out from the reactor vessel with about six-metre high water in it, in the reactor hall. The demonstration was really successful among the spectators.

Paks, 10 July 2002

József Tóbi
Training executive

Examination of the performance-physiology of the fire-fighters' personnel

The examinations of the performance-physiology of the fire-fighters' personnel have been carried out regularly since the spring of 1995. Besides the examination of the physiological data of body at rest, height-, weight-, 'BMI' determination, fat percentage and absolute fat quantity determination have been completed. The proportion of abdomen-hip circumferences has been determined, pulse at rest and blood pressure have been taken, the cholesterol level of serum and the triglyceride level of serum have been defined. Based on the completed data, risk determination and the probability of insulin resistance development have been examined taking into account the results of the enquiry form about the way of life. (Case-history in the family, eating habits, smoking and possible drinking habits have been studied in addition to the evaluation of stress effects related to life style). The data have been evaluated with the help of a computer program. An account of the advantageous physiological results of the personnel due to the regular physical activities has already been given earlier.

The personnel are in a special position. Since the physical activities and sports activities provided for them with the guidance of a qualified trainer-instructor as well as relaxation techniques taught by a trained instructor are considered to be rather favourable but the personnel are under huge psychic stress during their special work.

On the one hand, one of the aims of our examinations is the examination of the personnel's fitness indexes, on the base of which the individual performance and fitness condition can be easily measured and recorded. On the other hand, our aim is to maintain the personnel's health condition and to prevent the possible harmful consequences of their work. Considering the morbidity and mortality indexes in Hungary, it is particularly important to maintain the health condition of the personnel performing such special tasks.

During the examinations under load the performance-physiology test applied among leading sportsmen has been carried out. Light run after recording the physiological parameters at rest and followed by continuous recording of the parameters, then running at a maximum speed and performing physical activities wearing protective clothing the developed serum lactic acid level has been determined in the respect of oxygen consumption.

Although the family backgrounds and life styles are not different from the Hungarian average, due to the regular physical activities definitely favourable effects can be established. Good condition provides not only excellent physical performing capacity while working but helps to maintain good health condition in the long run as well.

25.07.2002

György Téglási
Sportdoctor

Life philosophy, physical-psychic balance Fire Service and wellness

Nowadays healthy way of life, physical exercise are getting more and more emphasised, keep-fit gyms are becoming more and more popular, you can hear more and more about fitness, and wellness is coming into the limelight. But what does expression 'wellness' really mean, and why did the Paks Nuclear Power Plant Facility Fire Service turn its attention to it and organise a course to get acquainted with it more closely and place it in their training plan?
Wellness means physical-psychic wellness, harmony of healthy physical condition and psychic balance, which can be accomplished in many ways.
Everybody can do it, the old and the young can find their individual perfect method. Wellness has many 'special fields', for example nature- medicine, gastronomy, tourism, and so on. Besides the differences all fields have one thing in common that connects them; each of them considers human being as a complex unit, the part of nature.
- Why is it necessary for fire-fighters to know and learn wellness? - Péter Bőhm, chief of the Paks Nuclear power Plant Fire Service, is answering my questions.
- First of all, because of the good physical condition, expected of fire-fighters. In case of alarm they must arrive at the scene and act very fast, in case of rescue they are exposed to strong physical trial. We have been dealing with the question how to keep the personnel in good, healthy condition for quite a long time. That is why we put it in our, fitness trainings. training programs. However, wellness means more than sports exercises. Everybody should know, while fitness concentrates on intensive physical training, improvement of sports skills-wellness aims at prevention (health prevention) or rehabilitation (recovery from illness, injuries) with sports activities. In case of wellness it is not performance but regular physical exercises that are important done by everyone depending on age and physical condition. The aim during trainings is not unconditional exhaustion but rather release from everyday stress. This sport is primarily based on preventive healthcare and not on performance-centric trainings. It includes several methods of mental techniques, such as yoga, tai-chit or stretching.
- What was the first step you made towards wellness?
- We organised a course last autumn. It was held by Wellness Koncept Ltd. with the title 'Training course for the introduction of wellness basic services'. It was the first time there had been such a course held at the fire service so its program was worked out for the employees of high quality fitness gyms meeting the recommendations and quality requirements of the Hungarian Wellness Society but the 12 fire-fighters taking part in the three-day long course in Paks listened with interest to the lectures about the principles of healthy and balanced lifestyle.
- What were the main topics of the course?
- 'Sports and Wellness' included wellness life philosophy, different aimed groups, and characteristics of gyms and their equipment as well. The 'Physical Condition Test' included different strength tests, flexibility tests and physical fitness tests. An essential element of 'Body consistence analysis' was the definition of BMI and body fats. In 'Cardio training' Conconi-test after warm-up and Cardio training plan played important role. The 'Training with weights' emphasised muscle groups, 'Stretching' stressed flexibility. 'Nutrition' included besides the basic concepts (basic metabolism, energy-needs and so on) the most important characteristics of our macro- and micro-nutritives, incorrect eating habits, false beliefs about diet, the principles of healthy nutrition, calorie calculation, planning loosing or putting on weight. After the theoretical preparation the participants learned to apply practical knowledge as well and proved their preparedness in a four-hour long exam. In the exam the participants had to answer the most important questions of wellness basic concepts and complete a form according to an individual casework. The practical exam consisted of cardio-training and stretching exercises.
- How successful was the course?
- According to the representative of Wellness Koncept Ltd, Dömötör Edit and the results of the exam some of the participants achieved the sports-experts preparedness and accomplished the tasks on a high level. The management of the Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service is planning to organise further courses annually to refresh and improve the employees' knowledge in order to maintain the efficiency of the acquired knowledge.

Ms Anna Lovászi