Health and Wellness for Women in the Fire Service
Monday, April 24

The number of women in the fire service has increased over time, yet there has been very little data regarding their health, safety, and wellness. To establish an inclusive, healthy fire service, we must consider the vast amount of factors that affect the crews. Cardiac health is among the top causes of fatalities in firefighter line-of-duty deaths and the second leading cause for female firefighters. Heart health is important. Resources based on the NVFC Heart Healthy campaign provide a well-rounded approach to preventive cardiac health. There is still much need for information about cancer types, occurrence rates, and prevention. The Women's Biomonitoring Collaborative provides new information based on recent studies. Efforts include informative, attention-grabbing resources meant to inspire firefighters about the importance of post-incident decon. Behavioral and mental health has been receiving a great amount of attention in the fire service. Attendees will be presented with information and resources regarding the impacts of culture, harassment and bullying, mental health, and suicide among women in the fire service. Included are resources for pregnant firefighters along with information about risks, impacts, and best practices. This class is based on the USFA study 'Emerging Issues for Women in the Fire Service.' It has been updated with resources from a FEMA-funded project partnered with Women in Fire and the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research.