By Kimberly Quiros, National Volunteer Fire Council Chief of Communications Firefighting is an inherently dangerous job, but there are many steps that can be taken to lessen the risks. Injury prevention is not an abstract concept – it is something we have control over and can prioritize for ourselves and…
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Dr. Stephen Odom, President, CEO & Chief Clinical Officer, New Vista Behavioral Health For those in the fire and rescue field, traumatic events are par for the course. While it can be rewarding to help those in need, that work can take a toll. Maintaining good mental health is essential…
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By Richard Russotti, FASNY Health and Wellness Committee Starting and maintaining a fitness program is a lot like being a firefighter ... both can be difficult. While firefighters rely on their solid knowledge of building construction, hydraulics and fire behavior, the world of fitness and dieting is full of conflicting…
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By Robert Blaufarb, Director of Health and Wellness – Mamaroneck Fire Department Hypertension (high blood pressure) afflicts over 1 billion people over 25 years old worldwide. This represents 40 percent of the world in this age group. This serious health concern is responsible for over 9 million deaths worldwide. Blood pressure…
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By Alex Ruckh, FASNY Health and Wellness Committee Social media in today’s age is a double-edged sword. Organizations live and die by them. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube ... all available at your fingertips to use 24/7/365. Depending on your age, these apps are second nature to operate or like brain…
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Firefighters juggle a lot of responsibilities, but one area they often lose focus on is their health. Unfortunately, this can lead to tragic consequences. How many reports have you seen of a firefighter having a heart attack while on-duty or a firefighter diagnosed with cancer? Odds are you probably know…
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By Chief Marc Bashoor There are common threads to operational and mortal issues affecting the fire service and firefighter growth and development. Similar to the operational 360 that we should all be using to size-up fire scenes, let's take a look at our own personal 360. I’m not talking about…
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By Robert Blaufarb, Mamaroneck Fire Department Director of Health and Wellness Mission Statement: The Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department is committed to the achievement of the highest quality of health and wellness for our men and women and their families. Philosophy: To achieve optimal health and fitness throughout the firefighter’s…
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By Lieutenant Brad Bouchillon, Statesboro (GA) Fire Department Can you name one machine that doesn’t require maintenance? I can’t. There might be one (I’m a firefighter, not a machinist), but for the most part, all the equipment we operate requires regular maintenance. Fire apparatus requires constant upkeep ranging from oil…
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You may have heard the term “tactical athlete” a lot recently. The term itself is not confined to the fire service and firefighters but other high-risk professions such as the military. The United States Marine Corp (U.S.M.C.) defines a “tactical athlete” as an individual who trains for combat readiness using…
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