The University of Washington’s School of Social Work recently held training for firefighters and emergency medical services staff from nine fire departments across the state. The Behavioral Health Crisis Outreach Response and Education (BHCore) is a new center envisioned to fill a void in mental health and substance abuse call preparedness for frontline responders.

First responders face immense stress, but mental health support is improving. Departments nationwide are adopting peer support, mindfulness, and wellness programs to combat PTSD and burnout. Leaders are breaking the stigma, ensuring first responders get the help they need. Read more about these crucial efforts.

It is estimated that each year, over 356,000 cardiac arrest events occur outside of hospital settings across the U.S. – and nearly 90% of them prove to be fatal. To address this critical issue and improve preparedness in schools and communities, advocates from across the state of Texas gathered earlier this year in the capitol to discuss the need to have Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) in place throughout all schools in the state.

On July 19, 2024, close to a hundred attendees, including the current cadet classes from DC Fire and EMS and the Metropolitan Police Department, gathered at the Inova Center for Personalized Health for the Prepared Together Summit hosted by Equipped in partnership with Food on the Stove.

CrossCountry Mortgage has launched a new benefit program aimed at alleviating the financial burdens faced by the families of first responders who lose their lives in the line of duty. This unique initiative provides a Line of Duty Death Benefit that cancels outstanding mortgage balances of up to $525,000 on home loans serviced by CrossCountry Mortgage for eligible federal, state, county, or municipal agency law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs.

September marks Suicide Prevention Month. FirstNet’s Health & Wellness Coalition is an initiative that bridges the treatment gap among first responders, who experience a multitude of stressors throughout their careers.

24 years after the first International Firefighters’ Day, DC nonprofit Food on the Stove is introducing International Firefighters’ Weekend, a series of events that will take place May 4-7 in the nation’s capital. The weekend will kick off with a dynamic health and training seminar.

With a $4 million grant from the Arizona Board of Regents, the University of Arizona will lead a study enrolling 1,500 Arizona firefighters to test the effectiveness of whether blood or plasma donations lower cancer-causing “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS) levels.

With funding from the Alabama Department of Mental Health and support from the Professional Fire Fighters of Alabama and the Alabama Fire College, Alabama will be one of the first states to include the training in its fire recruit school training.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) have released a joint statement warning members that firefighter turnout gear poses potentially grave health risks.

The discussion homed in on tactics commanders can implement to build and maintain successful safety strategies for law enforcement officers and other first responders who work along the nation’s roadways.

All first responders in Missouri are now eligible to receive free critical incident stress management (CISM) training, via the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) in coordination with the Warrior’s Rest Foundation.

Food on the Stove is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization founded to promote healthy lifestyle management among firefighters, with programs ranging from healthy cooking demonstrations to partnerships with local farms.