Recently, at 2014 NENA in Nashville, TN, I was asked by Ricardo Martinez from the Within the Trenches to participate in a podcast about Xybix, our 911 ergonomic workstations and the recently introduced treadmills and bikes. Naturally, I accepted his invitation and  answer quite a few of the questions we've been receiving about the treadmill workstations. Here is what Ricardo came up with. 

Episode topics –

• Xybix history
• Treadmill facts
• Xybix blogs
• Frequently Asked Questions

Here at Xybix, we’re passionate about bringing health and wellness to dispatch and command center environments. We also understand that there are still a lot of misconceptions about incorporating healthy habits into the workplace. Fortunately, for the headband-wearing Olivia Newton-John's in all of us, it’s easier than ever to experience the impact and benefits of getting fit on the job. With that said, we’re here to give you the information you need to ensure that the healthy efforts of employers and employees are not overlooked.

If you read our recent blog post on healthier 911 dispatcher food options, you may have noticed that our Marketing Director, Kathleen, mentioned to avoid take-out. I wholeheartedly agree with this. But the thing is, it can be hard! There are only so many hours in the day, and some days, despite our best intentions, we simply don’t have time to pack a lunch. As a regional sales rep, this happens to me every day I am on the road (which is a lot). When you don’t have time to pack healthy, you tend to reach for the quickest option — or perhaps from the same place a co-worker is ordering from. But many times, there are healthier choices. Let this be your guide!

Recently, Xybix has been lucky to hear many remarkable stories of weight loss, diet and exercise from 911 dispatchers who have stopped by our booth at recent tradeshows. We’re truly happy for your successes and thrilled to hear that so many 911 dispatchers in the industry are focusing on their health! 

At one recent tradeshow, I was speaking with a dispatcher about food, and the struggles of eating right in the dispatch center, with a high-stress environment and shifts that often last 12 hours or more. If you are like most dispatchers, many — if not all — of you end up eating meals at your desk, which makes complete sense when you’re working such long hours!

Frequently Asked Treadmill Desk Questions

Exercising at work has numerous benefits including reducing stress and improving your health. Suggested exercises while at work often involve getting up from you desk. For example, it is suggested that employees walk to another employee to engage in conversation instead of staying at their desk and sending an email. Another common suggestion is to get up every hour and walk around the office area taking stairs if they are available.  

While these are great ideas they may not be as helpful to people in fields where they can not just get up from their desks whenever they desire. Employees, such as 911 dispatchers and public safety professionals, need tips that allow them to exercise without leaving their workstation. Not only is it important for these employees to have the opportunity to improve their health but their high stress jobs make identifying options for stress relief while at work imperative.  

One of the most important investments a casino owner can make is in the security of the establishment. With this in mind, many casino managers have installed high-tech surveillance systems, such as HD cameras and around-the-clock video monitoring, all of which provides exceptional oversight and security. But the casino industry’s next big surveillance investment should be a little closer to solid ground. We’re talking about height-adjustable furniture consoles for security operators, which can be incredibly beneficial for both the operations team and the management.

Height-adjustable furniture is commonly used in government agencies such as 911 dispatch and utilities departments. While you may think that 911 dispatchers have little in common with casino security, they actually share one major job function: long hours at a desk, scrutinizing multiple computer screens.

Did you know that people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors? Did you know the air inside your 911 Comm Center can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside? YIKES! Indoor air quality(IAQ) affects your health and that is why improving the air quality in your facility is so important.  

Let’s face it, when you sit at a desk all day, it is hard to stay healthy and active. In most office jobs, people are afforded the opportunity to get up for a multitude of reasons - to take a bathroom break, refresh coffee, chat with a coworker about the weekend, head to lunch, or to just simply to stretch their legs.

Unfortunately, in the world of 911 dispatch, security monitoring, utility monitoring or in any call center, employees are tied to their desks. Want to get up and walk around the office? What if an emergency call comes in? The truth is, in these 24/7 industries, it is just not that easy!