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.
Track the daily habits that support operational readiness, performance and long-term health.
Better Every Shift: Health Focus
The former U.S. fire administrator details her new role at the Fire Safety Research Institute, plus ideas for how to better elevate the fire service at home and abroad
After decades of work in the firefighter counseling space, Leto shares what he’s learned about resilience, relationships and the healing power of doing good
Lautz describes extreme diets as “trying to get to a second-story window without a ladder,” which she combats through pro tips for making better choices on scene and at home
Health & Wellness Resources
A recent IAFF survey highlights that firefighters want PPE that is more scalable, modular and better aligned with actual incident hazards
A recent IAFF survey highlights that firefighters want PPE that is more scalable, modular and better aligned with actual incident hazards
Conquer stressful calls, identify treatment challenges and pitfalls, and use technology to its best potential to save lives this summer and beyond
Shifting fire service culture from convenience foods to performance fueling
Too many male firefighters are still not listening, especially when the message is coming from a woman
A physician’s assistant at FDIC urged me to seek out a specialist — and now I urge you to pay attention to your body and take action when needed
Sometimes, despite love and connection and every effort to help, we can’t save someone — but we must keep trying
PFD Assistant Chief Jeff Schripsema shares a powerful story highlighting the department’s commitment to its members
Moral injury can quietly undermine firefighters’ well-being, but intentional practices that can help prevent lasting harm
Preparation transforms uncertainty into confidence and ensures your organization is ready for whatever comes next
Fire service leaders must ensure their crews are mentally ready for every call — through training, trust and proactive support systems
A new study explores gender differences in PTSD and post-traumatic growth among firefighters, EMTs and medics
This conversation delves into the importance of proactive brain care, leadership resilience and the future of AI in healthcare
Stack the deck in your favor now, before the health battles become unwinnable
Long shifts, stress and sleep loss undermine firefighter readiness and safety, but new data-driven approaches offer hope
Understanding our physiological stress response is key to managing chronic stress
The West Metro assistant chief offers insights from firefighter sleep research
Learn what it takes to implement a successful, sustainable in-house therapy dog program
It’s time to match praise with policy for those on the front lines
Researchers have identified four common sleep disturbances experienced by public safety personnel
Discover how firefighters can improve sleep and fight fatigue with simple changes like air filters, blackout curtains and humidity control
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
