Firefighter Suicide: The more we know, the more we know

Dr. Olivia Johnson is the President Shepherds & Sheepdogs, LTD., a professional speaker, author, and suicidology researcher--And one of my 1st Level Connections over on LinkedIn. Dr. Johnson has written a couple articles recently that should give us pause to learn and reflect on what we're doing to prevent suicides and why she believes that those efforts are not working.

Read More »

Firefighters and Fire Officers: Register for the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) created the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer to better understand cancer risk in the fire service. When you join the NFR for Cancer, you share information about your work history, health, and exposures that can pave the way for new health and safety measures. All U.S. firefighters – with or without cancer, active or retired, and any specialty - can join.

Read More »

Today is National Employee Resource Group Day

By: Stephanie White, Firefighter/Paramedic and Guest Blogger Or at least that’s what my LinkedIn feed is telling me [National Employee Resource Groups Day 2024 was November 17th]. Being in the fire service I’m no stranger to ERGs and the solutions and guidance they provide, but I’m also going to use today to dovetail into a subject that I also know ...

Read More »

Why I write

I write because I want people to think, especially about what they don't know. My aim is to inform, educate, and challenge readers to encourage them to engage with new ideas. In return, I learn from their feedback.

Read More »

Understanding Firefighter Suicide: A Call to Action for the Fire Service

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer Today’s Firefighters face unique and intense challenges that can significantly impact their mental health. The nature of their work exposes them to traumatic events, physical danger, and elevated levels of stress. Like many issues facing our society today, the effects of those stressors have been amplified by the increased influence of social media and ...

Read More »

Uniting Forces: The “Nine Sisters” and the Fire Service Psychology Association for Firefighter Mental Health

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer The “Nine Sisters” (Clockwise): International Assn. of Fire Chiefs; International Assn. of Fire Fighters; National Volunteer Fire Council; National Fallen Firefighters Foundation; International Society of Fire Service Instructors; National Fire Protection Assn.; Fire Department Safety Officers Assn.; International Assn. of Black Firefighters; and the National Assn. of Hispanic Firefighters. Firefighters face unique and intense ...

Read More »

The Missing Presence: “Nine Sisters” at the 7th Annual Fire Service Psychology Association Conference

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer The 7th Annual Conference of the Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA), held on October 3-4, 2024, in Washington, D.C. was a significant event aimed at bridging the gap between professional psychology and the fire service. However, the absence of the “Nine Sisters” – the major fire service organizations – was a notable and concerning ...

Read More »