Includes: Grand Rounds, Pro Q&A’s, Research Roundtables, Show & Tell Me About…

The Fire Service Wingspread DEI was hosted by the Johnson Foundation and convened in May 2023 at the Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Almost thirty fire service leaders from across North America met to discuss how to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within fire departments across the country. These discussions resulted in two reports summarizing roadblocks and proven practices to address the current culture and move forward with better recruitment and retention.

The main goals of this project are translation and dissemination of evidence-based educational content and training. With over one million firefighters nationwide and millions more worldwide, this educational content has the potential to impact a vast majority of the fire service.

Every firefighter needs to take control of their own health care and ensure their providers are aware of the physical and mental health stress common for firefighters. Here you will find tools to help you make informed decisions and guide your physical and mental health care.

The Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research (CFREHR) has partnered with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) and DetecTogether in a groundbreaking cancer prevention initiative, sponsored by the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.

These reports overview risk factors and the current literature that supports a relationship between site specific cancers and firefighting.

Through a partnership with Women and Fire and supported by funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FEMA FP&S), we are committed to conducting a novel examination of firefighter camps designed for girls and young women across North America.

This FEMA-funded project's goal was to comprehensively review the current Wellness Fitness Initiative (WFI) and its associated programs and assess the barriers and facilitators to implementing a successful wellness and fitness program in the fire service.

Ensure the health and safety of your fire department by implementing and/or validating a Firefighter Physical Ability Test (FPAT).

The purpose of this monograph is to encourage and support those difficult conversations and to provide guidance on what fire departments can do to address alcohol use among its members.

The Black Women’s Learning Institute (BWLI) is a national center focused on the health and wellness needs of Black women across their lifespan.

The BETTER HEART (Building Evaluations That Translate Evidence and Research for Heart Evaluations And Related Training) project sought to use the latest medical information, research findings from studies of firefighters, and data from firefighters’ occupational medical exams to develop enhanced, evidence-based guidelines for the detection of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in firefighters.

By: Carlos Aviles, Keith Chapman, Mark Harper, Dr. Lindsay Judah, Harold Theusre

Infographic (downloadable) & reference sources

By introducing women firefighters to these resources, they can access the support and tools they need to navigate the unique stressors of their profession and maintain their well-being. Additionally, fostering a culture that encourages open dialogue about mental health and supports seeking help is essential for creating a supportive environment for all firefighters.