8 Strategies for Staying Healthy in the Office
So, you find yourself “on days” as a fire service administrator. This is an amazing opportunity to support firefighters while moving the organization forward.
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HEALTH
Firefighters are aware of the statistics linking firefighter deaths to preventable diseases and illnesses caused by unhealthy lifestyles. One of the leading causes of firefighter deaths is heart attacks. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Bringing answers to the modern firefighter’s burning health questions, we aim to help firefighters identify and put into practice better health choices to increase your chances at a healthier wellbeing with disease and illness free careers and retirements.
Latest: HEALTH
Trust Your Gut – Should Firefighters Detox?
Popular detoxification programs such as juice cleanses, sugar detoxes, elimination diets, fasting and taking fiber supplements usually involve eating minimal food. But I recommend that you think twice before you try one.
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Absolving Yourself of Guilt
It’s very difficult having so much responsibility. What is yours? What is not? For all the lives and property you save, for all the people you help, it is often that one that you couldn’t save, or whose outcome was dire, that brings guilt into your heart. It’s hard to shoulder the weight of having someone’s life or livelihood in your hands.
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Turn the Heat up with Hot Yoga
Hot yoga—usually practicing Hatha or vinyasa at about 104 degrees F for about an hour— has become popular in recent years but buy-in from the fire service is still a challenge. Hot Yoga is not just stretching, it's purposeful movement, and it has something for everyone.
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Is Your Emotional Bank Full?
When was the last time a significant other said, “You treat the general public better than you treat me?” Ouch. And the follow-up to that question is this response, “They pay my salary!” Well, it is a fair question, and depending on who the significant other is, it might carry much more significance. However, I do not endorse that response as it carries a lot of pain and anguish.
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The Power of TRE for Firefighters: A Natural Solution to Combat Trauma
In 2020, a significant health awakening prompted me to address my nervous system before my symptoms and overall health deteriorated any further. In my search for tools and strategies to regain my well-being, I discovered a self-care gem: Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®). After just a few sessions with a certified provider, I felt a remarkable improvement in my well-being. This experience inspired me to become an accredited provider and share this incredible tool with other first responders.
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Allostatic Load vs. Total Training Load: What’s the Difference and Why Should You Care?
There are two types of “stress loads” that we might consider at different stages of our firefighting career. We will define and discuss stress related to “Allostatic Load” and “Total Training Load” and the impacts of these stressors in Recruit Academy, Operations, and Administration.
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Is it a Myth or Reality? Knee Injuries in Female Firefighters
When looking at injuries among firefighters over the last decade, we have seen a gradual decline in overall injuries (NFPA – Firefighter Injuries on the Fireground 2022). When looking at musculoskeletal injuries specifically, most might think that low back injuries account for the majority of recorded injuries. However, the lower extremity accounts for 19% of recorded injuries with the upper extremity accounting for 17%, the shoulder 12%, and the spine accounting for 3% (NFPA – Firefighter Injuries on the Fireground 2022). When looking at lower extremity injuries, the knee is the most injured joint.
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A 2023 Perspective on Female Firefighters and the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer
According to the U.S. Cancer Statistics, which shares the prevalence of different types of cancers, including all races, ethnicities and professions, female breast cancer was the #1 leading cause of new cancer cases in 2020.
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Response Time Matters
Like a fire, firefighters can catch cancer early to prevent its spread and increase survivability. Response Time Matters continues the momentum of causing a cultural shift in the fire service to address cancer risk and encourage timely medical attention.
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