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
After Kentucky Assistant Chief Chip Terry died by suicide, his widow made it her mission to help first responders get the help they need for PTSD
The Tucson fire chief details the fireground behaviors that raise his hackles
The Illinois firefighter details how fire departments can help critically ill kids have “more good days”
Health & Wellness Resources
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
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
The risk management expert delivers commonsense wisdom, including three actions he would take if he were in charge
The fire service has no shortage of strong leaders. What it lacks is permission for those leaders to be human.
Free webinars and daily wellness resources will address injury recovery, mental health, resilience and agency wellness strategy
Guidance for know when to everyday stressors become something bigger, something that requires professional help
Many first responders avoid connection, but connecing with and confiding in someone who cares about us is proven to reduce stress
By encouraging gratitude among members, fire departments can cultivate a culture of resiliency, as members are better able to bounce back from difficult situations
Understanding optimal water intake, plus simple steps for achieving daily hydration goals
Simple steps to help optimize sleep quality even when you can’t get the recommended number of hours
Stretching can help overcome some of the common muscle tightness that occurs naturally over time
How first responders can adapt to and recover from adversity faced on the job
The Lexipol co-founder details the impetus for creating this health-focused event for all first responders
Lexipol created First Responder Wellness Week to support, raise awareness and promote strong self-care among public safety workers
Chief Marc Bashoor joins a special live Better Every Shift to discuss what it really means to be a healthy firefighter
It is essential to create a supportive, inclusive and trusting work environments
Many first responders report experiencing the chronic feelings of guilt and shame that are central to moral injury
Burying our feelings of trauma and shame only further entrench them in our experiences
From resistance-training complexes to gamifying training, these strategies will help you maximize the time you spend working out
Why fire and EMS personnel should incorporate functional training
One of the key risk factors for alcohol abuse is post-traumatic stress, something many first responders struggle with
In this video, Aaron Zamzow offers his thought process for selecting the best fitness motivation for you, such as marathons or stair climb events
Because we know how high the risk is for first responders, we must be diligent in detecting and preventing cardiac disease
The transition from shift work to desk work typically brings a more sedentary lifestyle that needs to be actively resisted
How to communicate with your family after a tragedy or difficult shift
Emergency service officials issue warning after paramedic found dead in gym accident
We need to apply our fireground mayday training to our mental health and personal stressors
Dogs have a long history helping firefighters; now they expand their role to offer physical and mental health benefits
Listen and watch as Gordon Graham underlines the importance of first responders seeking early treatment as soon as mental health symptoms appear
Aaron Zamzow outlines how focusing on habit-forming goals and following a clear plan leads to success and real progress
While lots of people talk about the importance of sleep, they often do not address how to get to sleep
Police reform prompts further discussion of how fire and EMS should handle behavioral health crises
Strategies for first responders to manage stress during busy shifts
Research shows the physiological impacts of training in realistic conditions to prepare the body for the job
