Wildland Firefighter Health Series: Current Knowledge for Body, Mind, and Well-being

Wildland Firefighter Health Series
May 31st - June 2, 2022

This 3-day series of presentations and panel discussions shared the current science, knowledge, and tools to support wildland firefighter physical and mental health and overall well-being. The series was developed to bring the latest science to those working in fire management and/or wildland firefighting.

Recordings will be available soon.

Agenda

Day 1: Physical Health

• Smoke Exposure and Health Effects for Wildland Firefighters – Kathleen Navarro
• Female Firefighters and Reproductive Health: What We Know and Where We Are Going – Alesia Jung
• Sleep Matters: How it Affects Mental and Physical Health – Randy Brooks
• Wildland Firefighter Physiological Health and Job Demands – Joe Sol
• Fitness Leadership: Management Perspective – Luis Gomez

Day 2: Mental Health

• Wildland Firefighter Mental Health - Patty O’Brien
• PTSD: Finding a Way Home – Marc Titus
• Taming Fire Dragons - Suzanne Connolly
• Identification and Integration of Moral Injury – Rebecca Morris
• Stress First Aid for Wildland Firefighters – Kimberly Lightley

Day 3: Supporting a Healthy Workforce

• Recognizing Risk Factors in the Workplace – Matt Carroll
• Active Bystander and Preparedness Training – Ty Gilbert
• Building Resilience – Ben Iverson
• Overview and Practical Application of Incident Kits – K.C. Briggs
• NWCG Efforts for Wildland Firefighter Health – Miranda Stuart

Resources Recommended by our Speakers

Kathleen Navarro

• Exposure to Particulate Matter and Estimation of Volatile Organic Compounds across Wildland Firefighter Job Tasks. 2021. K. Navarro et al.
• Working in Smoke: Wildfire Impacts on the Health of Firefighters and Outdoor Workers and Mitigation Strategies. 2020. K. Navarro.
• Wildland firefighter smoke exposure and risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality. 2019. K. Navarro et al. (associated NRFSN Research Brief)

Alesia Jung

• Infographic: Reproductive Health & the Fire Service. 2021. References available here.       

Joe Sol

• Total Energy Intake and Self-Selected Macronutrient Distribution During Wildland Fire Suppression. 2020. A. Marks et al.
• Seasonal changes in wildland firefighter fitness and body composition. 2020. S.E. Gaskill et al.
• Metabolic Demand of Hiking in Wildland Firefighting. 2018. J.A. Sol et al.

Ben Iverson

• Book: The Power of Full Engagement. 2003. J. Loehr and T. Schwartz.
• Course: Resilience. Human Performance Institute.

Other Resources

• NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee
  Mental health resources for wildland firefighters.
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  1-800-273-8255, 24/7 confidential support or Text “MHA” to 741-741
• Need to talk to someone? (Warmline directory)
  A warmline is a phone number you call to have a confidential conversation with someone who can provide support during hard times.
• Behavioral Health Provider Directory for Emergency Responders
  Directory hosted by National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
• National Sexual Assault Hotline
  1-800-656-4673, 24/7 confidential support
• RAINN Sexual Assault Resource Directory
  Online chat & other resources
• USDA FS Harassment Reporting Center
  (844) 815-8943 Open 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
  1-800-662-4357, 24/7 National Helpline and treatment referral service
• Findtreatment.gov
  Directory of state-licensed providers who specialize in treating substance use disorders.

Presented as a partnership among the Northern Rockies Fire Science Network, the Northwest Fire Science Consortium, the Great Basin Fire Science Exchange, the Southern Rockies Fire Science Network, and the California Fire Science Consortium. 

This event was organized with agenda input provided by the USDA Forest Service’s Innovation & Organizational Learning RD&A and Work Environment & Performance Office, and inspiration derived from the International Association of Wildland Fire’s Workforce Resilience Ignite Talks.