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Kinesiology Department at Mississippi College Assists Clinton Firefighters


Clinton's new Fire Department

Clinton firefighters are learning about proper nutrition, exercise, better sleep habits and other wellness initiatives thanks to the Mississippi College kinesiology department.

It’s not only a new program to benefit the city’s firefighters during their classes spread over eight weeks this fall.

“This will be a learning tool for our graduate assistants,” says MC kinesiology professor Suzanne McDonough, the wellness program’s lead instructor.

This fall’s wellness courses with Mississippi College are a great fit with the Clinton Fire Department’s new state-of-the art building. Previously the headquarters of Clinton Park Elementary, the former recreation area at the school was converted to serve the firefighters’ fitness and training needs. It’s the place where they can take part in the Fit Firefighter program.

The Clinton firefighters partnership with Mississippi College comes when the kinesiology department is promoting its new master’s degree in wellness.

MC kinesiology professors checked with other wellness programs around the USA, including the Phoenix, Arizona Fire Department before moving forward, McDonough said.

The 90-minute classes will meet Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The courses will be a plus for Chief Barry Burnside and his fellow firefighters in this Hinds County community, McDonough believes. “It will be good for the morale of everybody.”

The classes will include some “fun stuff,” the professor says, besides dealing with nutrition and exercise. Instructors will even offer tips to firefighters to help them buy groceries at Kroger. The classes will provide plenty of nuggets of information that busy firefighters can digest in a hurry. If the alarms begin to sound, classes will come to a sudden halt so the firefighters can do their jobs, McDonough said.

Mark Jones, communications director for the City of Clinton, gives his thumbs up to the wellness classes.

“It’s a great way to continue the historic partnership between the city and Mississippi College,” says Jones, an MC alumnus. “It’s another piece of evidence of the good fit of Mississippi College and Clinton as partners.”

Kinesiology Department Chairman Chris Washam is delighted to see his professors and students working as a team with the Clinton Fire Department.

“This project is providing an outstanding group of undergraduate and graduate students with some key experiences in workplace and community health and wellness,” Washam said. “I think it speaks highly of the outstanding professional leadership of the Clinton Fire Department that they have initiated this program. I know that Dr. McDonough and the students involved will do an excellent job for them.”

For additional information, contact professor Suzanne McDonough at 601.925.7720 or SMcDonou@mc.edu.