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 Behind the Shield podcaster outlines the simple formula that makes a fourth shift work
Battalion Chief Greg Sawyer explains how one month at a slower station — replete with some cool health toys — can help members feel human again
Zapp, a human performance researcher and retired firefighter, talks health monitoring, smart (and safe) exercise, creatine supplements and more
Health & Wellness Resources
When leaders prioritize their own well-being, they set the stage for a healthier, more resilient workforce
With careful planning and administrative support, an agency wellness program can save careers, marriages and even lives
Starting a wellness program includes diagnosing the issue or improvement, developing the plan and implementing it
How one department added a shift to improve its members’ work-life balance
To track your nutrition, you need to see what, when and how much you actually eat
How to assess your current status, develop clear and measurable goals, and create a plan for success
Facing rising injury rates, one Colorado department implemented a daily stretching routine to strengthen firefighter health
My first line-of-duty injury was humbling
Fire Chief Robert Logan and Battalion Chief David Picone detail how SDFR shows its members ‘we’re focused on you’
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
Resilience is not something you’re born with; rather, it’s a skill you can develop
Peer support teams are a proven tool, but not every agency has the staffing or budget to create and run their own
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
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
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
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
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