From the battlefields of ancient Greece to modern war zones and fire grounds, society has been on an evolving journey, attempting to grasp the true nature of psychological wounds.
Read More »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 »We can all help prevent death and injury to children from firearms
The holiday season is upon us in the U.S. and Canada and that means children will be spending more time at home as many schools take breaks for the Thanksgiving (U.S.) and Christmas holidays. Thus, I’ve updated my original article and am sharing it today in hopes of preventing an unintentional shooting, especially one involving a child or teen.
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 »The inspiration to write a blog can come from just about anywhere
By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer I’m often asked why I continue to write and publish on this blog that I started in 2010. I, myself, sometimes wonder about the same thing because after fourteen years it sometimes becomes difficult to find fresh topics to expound upon. And then I get an email like this: Chief Avsec, I’m a Fire ...
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 ...
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