Trending Topics

How to hit the ‘RESET’ button on behavioral health

Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine talks Safety Stand Down resources to share with your crew, plus managing “sticky” traumatic event memories

“You’re not Superman; you can’t carry it all.” Sarasota (Florida) Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine urges all listeners, no matter your rank, to carve out time to focus on your behavioral health. If you don’t know where to start, this year’s Safety Stand Down offers a variety of resources centered on the theme “Break the Stigma: Behavioral Health RESET” – Recognize, Educate, Strategies, Empower and Training. Use the resources for your personal health needs, and share them with your crewmembers as part of the annual weeklong event, June 15-21, when all fire and EMS departments are encouraged to suspend non-emergency activity to focus on this central theme.

Get Firefighter Safety Stand Down resources.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com.

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Previously on the Better Every Shift Podcast
The division chief details when and how to use AI tools
The firefighter-counselor explains the problem with avoidant coping and how to help your brain finally deal with the ‘leftover stuff’
The Mesa fire chief spotlights the department’s forward-thinking approach to health, safety, social services and more
Understanding our physiological stress response is key to managing chronic stress
The Lehi (Utah) fire chief was recently named the IAFC’s Career Fire Chief of the Year