You made it here. YOU are the one that has the knowledge in your firehouse or on your shift about physical fitness, diet, and how to make them work to benefit yourself as a better firefighter and to support a better lifestyle. You’ve noticed a few others taking interest in what you are doing every […]
Continue readingCategory Archives: Firefighter Health
The BEST Exercise for Firefighters
The best, single exercise for firefighters has been a long debated subject among many in the fitness world. Not as bad as smooth bore and TFT nozzles, but close. Many trainers tell you body weight exercises, or calisthenics, while others proclaim certain weighted exercises are the most beneficial for our jobs. This has not only […]
Continue readingShift’s Night Out
We’ve been there time and time again, it’s the night after shift or a night off and the group makes plans to go out to the favorite bar for drinks and food. But you’ve been doing good with your diet and have been getting gains in the gym, and are finally seeing the results you’ve […]
Continue readingI wish my mind would forget what my eyes have seen (Dave Parnell, Detroit Fire Department)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD PTSD develops differently from person to person. While the symptoms of PTSD most commonly develop very soon after or even days following the traumatic event, it can sometimes take weeks, months, or even years before they appear. PTSD is commonly associated with the trauma suffered after serious injury to oneself […]
Continue readingThe Case for Saunas in the Fire Service
So there has been a lot of different opinions coming out about saunas and the fire service. Many of these opinions can be very compelling on both sides of the argument. Now, I am no expert by any means, but my travels for our organization and interacts with fellow firefighters, experts, and others brings me […]
Continue readingMy PTSD Journey
So I have really never considered I have had PTSD, but some of the symptoms have been coming more evident as the years go by. I had started to notice I was a different person that what I can remember of myself before the start in public safety. I have always been a champion of […]
Continue readingMy PTSD Journey Part 2
My PTSD Journey – Part 2 So I have to be honest with you, I’ve had thoughts of suicide. Now, I haven’t talked much about because I was embarrassed about it, frankly. Now this hasn’t been all the time and it usually comes up when I haven’t had the best sleep or during points of […]
Continue readingBrothers Helping Brothers visit The Fire Asylum
This week I was given the privilege of observing The Fire Asylum’s Masters of Mayhem training program. The Fire Asylum is the brain child of Marty Mayes, a retired veteran police officer and firefighter from Texas. I have known Marty for quite sometime and this training program has been building for many years before this […]
Continue readingHow career stress can be overcome by Goals & Vision
Pictured above: Brian Benedict with Connersville, Indiana Police Department Officer Dax Gunder If it was’t for Police and Fire Insurance I’m not sure I would’ve ever met Dax and his family. Although I did see him at a few of my music gigs but that’s another story. I can remember getting to know him and […]
Continue readingFirefighter Fitness
As firefighters, how do we take care and prepare ourselves to operate efficiently? We are all constantly working towards bettering ourselves through training, education, working out, and nutrition. The leading cause of firefighter deaths the past few decades has been linked to cardiac issues. Across the country there are a variety of different ways that […]
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