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 West Metro assistant chief offers insights from firefighter sleep research
Better Every Shift’s resident scientist shares how the upcoming Science to the Station event helps firefighters connect with peers and experts
Detailing simple steps to reduce exposures and improve long-term health
Health & Wellness Resources
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
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.”
The bravest leaders fight the fires you can’t see
We have to support each other and be willing to give help — and not just through dark humor or a slap on the back with a “you good?”
Emily Hitchings and Greg Friese analyze the wellness impact of the West Metro Fire Department changing shift change to 9 a.m.
How to lean into a customer-focused approach to modern fire service delivery
Zapp, a human performance researcher and retired firefighter, talks health monitoring, smart (and safe) exercise, creatine supplements and more
Choose a “culturally competent clinician” who uses standardized, solutions-focused treatment protocols to treat duty-related PTSD
First responders across the country joined Lexipol in highlighting wellness themes focused on fitness, mental health, peer support and connection
There’s a fine line between coping and avoiding; which one are you engaged in?
Following up after a traumatic incident can make all the difference. These practical conversation starters help you show empathy and provide support without making it awkward.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing focuses on reducing the vividness and emotion associated with the traumatic memories
Forget protein bars — the best “exercise snack” happens in the patrol car, between calls or while restocking the rig
Are you really committed to the work or are you simply avoiding problems at home?
Commit to making small changes for a positive impact on your health and wellbeing
What first responders can learn about fatigue management from the U.S. Army’s doctrine on readiness
Don’t feel bad if your New Year’s resolutions didn’t last long because the calendar is full of opportunities for a new beginning, a do-over or a fresh start
It can be challenging to set time aside to keep a healthy mind and body; here’s our top 25 wellness tips for you to concentrate on this year
Shift your mindset and identity to achieve and maintain your objectives
When free of shift schedules, try these tips to get to sleep faster and achieve quality sleep
Dr. Rachelle Zemlok takes the Better Every Shift crew inside the psychologist’s office during First Responder Wellness Week
Short on time and space? Check out these products to help get a workout in no matter where you are in your day
By incorporating these snacks into their daily routine, firefighters can better manage their energy levels and focus
Build strength and stamina for the demands of the job with this first responder-focused training program
Discover effective strategies to combat fatigue, stay alert, healthy and perform at your best
From managing unpredictable income to planning for early retirement, this guide offers essential financial strategies tailored to police, fire, EMS and corrections professionals
Download a one-page sheet outlining the 30-day challenge; each day is focused on a key tenet of health
Learn these crucial phrases that signal emotional struggles for first responders and how to respond with empathy
Ditch the “all-or-nothing” attitude and replace it with “a little goes a long way” approach by following these five steps
Hit your fitness goals without breaking the bank
It is our responsibility to supply our bodies with the exercise and care they need to serve us efficiently
Caffeine, supplements, cravings – our nutritionists break down their top tips
Achieve peak performance through foam-rolling, active warm-ups, deadlifts, functional dumbbell exercises, and high-intensity interval training
It can have a range of negative effects on both physical and mental health
Every little bit helps; find out which fitness clubs give first responders the most bang for their buck
Not getting adequate, quality rest can wreak havoc on your physical and mental health
When you avoid processing your most challenging calls, you don’t get better or even stay the same; you get worse
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