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(ii) Wellness and Fitness Activities. We believe that to have an effective <br />wellness/fitness program, fire departments must offer periodic health screenings, entry <br />physical examinations, and an immunizationprogram. Accordingly, applicants for grants <br />in this category must currently offer or plan to offer with grant funds all three bene�ts to <br />receive consideration and funding for any other initiatives in this activity. After entry- <br />level physicals, annual physicals, and immunizations, high priority is given to formal <br />fitness and injury prevention programs. Lower priority is given to stress management, <br />injury/illness rehabilitation, and employee assistance. <br />We believe the greatest benefit will be realized by supporting new wellness and <br />fitness programs, and therefore, we will accord higher competitive ratings to those <br />applicants lacking wellness/iitness programs over those applicantsthat already employ a <br />wellness/fitness program. Finally, since participation is critical to achieving any benefits <br />from a wellness or fitness program, we will give higher competitive ratings to <br />departments whose wellness and fitness programs mandate or provide incentives for <br />participation. <br />(iii) Equipment Acauisition. The stated purpose of this grant program is to <br />protect the health and safety of firefighters from fire and fire-related hazards. As such, <br />we believe that this grant program will achieve the greatest benefits by providing funds to <br />fire departments purchasing basic firefighting equipment before any other non- <br />firefighting equipment. Equipment that has a direct effect on firefighters' health and <br />safety will receive a high competitive rating over equipment that has no such effect. <br />Equipmentthat promotes interoperability with neighboringjurisdictions may receive <br />�8 <br />