First Responder Wellness Week is dedicated to providing resources, support and community to help public safety personnel better understand the mental and physical health risks that come with the job.
Join Lexipol, FireRescue1 and our partners from March 23-27, 2026, to focus on your health and promote the wellness of your personnel. Each day we’ll focus on a different topic, providing shift briefing videos, webinars, articles, podcasts and more, all within the overarching theme of being “Total Wellness. True Readiness.”
Join us for a week of daily sessions focused on strengthening wellness across your agency — everything from healthy habits and smart recovery to building a program that puts firefighter health front and center.
Practical strategies for injury, aging, and long-term performance.
Start here to create a restoration routine.
Why wellness is a need to have, not a nice to have.
How to weave wellness into your agency’s mission and culture.
Real first responder wellness questions, real answers.
Better Every Shift: Health Focus
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 West Metro assistant chief offers insights from firefighter sleep research
Health & Wellness Resources
Biophilic elements, natural light and advanced decontamination spaces highlight the commitment to firefighter wellness
With an increased risk of developing skin cancer, firefighters should follow simple steps to avoid sunburn
Celebrating the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation
Snow can hinder the size-up, hiding dangers and firefighter tools, and requires more effort to effect a fire attack, making rehab a must
My personal journey proves the power of NFPA 1582 physicals in detecting cancer and cardiac abnormalities
These tips, tools, products and services are designed to promote emotional and psychological resilience
Take care of your active duty, but don’t forget about your retirees
Red flags are rarely subtle in hindsight
As the Greek physician and philosopher Hippocrates said, “If you are in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk.”
Taking regular, scheduled vacations is an essential part of maintaining your well-being
It’s impossible to “read the room” from your phone
Mislabeling public safety K-9s creates confusion, liability and access issues during high-stakes deployments
The benefits are clear, but where to start? Learn how to find, fund and implement a therapy dog program, and download a fillable caretaking schedule
Why we need to build active bystandership cultures in emergency services
Better Every Shift’s resident scientist shares how the upcoming Science to the Station event helps firefighters connect with peers and experts
Like your radio, helmet or turnout jacket, boundaries are essential gear — not visible, but critical for protection. In high-stress roles like firefighting, mental armor isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity
A practical guide to interpreting urine color for maintaining optimal hydration
Distinguishing between the conditions starts with fluid history and symptom patterns
Insulated, smart, and high-capacity bottles designed to help first responders beat dehydration on shift and beyond
Treat your challenges as obstacles, not excuses, and treat your failures as learning opportunities
As you develop healthy habits that provide you with time to decompress, you will have more energy at work and at home
We can make our own lives more meaningful by caring for our bodies and spirits, and by finding the courage to say “yes” to the life we want
We all need someone to rely on during the difficult — as well as not-so-difficult — times
From smartwatches to hydration, here are four mission-ready picks to help you build strength, regulate stress and stay fit for the job — and for life
We also know walking provides tremendous benefits for physical health, but does our step count really matter?
What a week in the Sahara taught one chief officer about leading with purpose and building organizational endurance
Find your inner-chef with these recipes written, compiled and taste-tested by fellow first responders
Retired fire chief Pat Kenny shows how vulnerability, empathy, and hope transform mental-health struggles and profound loss into resilient, compassionate leadership
Reaching out for help is a strong, responsible choice that underscores both professional dedication and a commitment to personal well-being
Summer is great for a lot of activities, but sometimes the heat can put a damper on your workout ambitions
By following actionable steps before, during and after a vacation, firefighters can embrace the therapeutic power of detachment and fortify their resilience
While these schedules provide a certain degree of flexibility, they can wreak havoc on personnel wellness
While often present in public safety culture, gallows humor is a double-edged tool — providing momentary relief but carrying emotional risks if left unchecked
The FireRescue1 community asked several great questions during our recent live podcast focused on firefighter therapy
Scrolling can’t save you — but a conversation might
Easy tips for building a personal oasis at home where you can decompress, recharge and sustain your mental wellbeing
One study shows that injuries for firefighters working 48-hour shifts are highest during the second day of the shift
Learn how to choose the right pet for your shift schedule, energy level and emotional needs
When leaders prioritize their own well-being, they set the stage for a healthier, more resilient workforce
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- Leadership lessons from Simone Biles: Responding to our limits
- Fitness trackers and watches: The key to intentional wellness
- Lift more weight while reducing back pain: A guide on using weightlifting belts for first responders
- Stay fit without breaking the bank
- ‘Good, better, best’: Megan Lautz shares a realistic approach to FF nutrition