Emergency Responder Health, Safety and Wellness:

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EMS Safety Practices

Learn how to develop a safety program that covers all aspects of emergency medical services (EMS) operations.

Health and Safety Blog

Firefighters: Donating blood may reduce PFAS levels in your blood

A research project involving Australian firefighters shows PFAS levels in the blood can be reduced if a person donates blood every 12 weeks or plasma every 6 weeks. Exposures to PFAS have been linked to cancer.

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National Fire Academy training

Our Responder Health and Safety courses will help you to develop risk management strategies that reduce firefighter and EMS casualties. Current health and safety issues are explored, with an emphasis on the safety role of the first-line supervisor.

Courses are available on- and off-campus, and online.

Browse courses in this curriculum

Health, safety and wellness manuals

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Emergency Services Ergonomics and Wellness

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Emergency Services Ergonomics and Wellness

Provides corrective measures that will help to increase the safety of emergency responders, reduce the costs of worker's compensation claims, maximize the longevity of emergency service careers, and assist with sending personnel into healthy retirements.

Includes posters for your fire department that encourage injury prevention by working smarter.

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Emerging Health and Safety Issues Among Women in the Fire Service

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Emerging Health and Safety Issues Among Women in the Fire Service

This guide serves as a status check on long-term and emerging issues of health and safety for women in the fire service.

Includes resources that address top issues and makes recommendations for improving the fire service for women and for all.

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Safety and Health Considerations for the Design of Fire and EMS Stations

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Safety and Health Considerations for the Design of Fire and EMS Stations

If you are a fire department leader, architect or local government official, this guide will assist you in your efforts to design a safe, healthy and functional facility.

Recommendations are specifically directed toward those injury, health and accident concerns associated with activities that occur at fire and emergency services stations.

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Risk Management Practices in the Fire Service

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Risk Management Practices in the Fire Service

Recommended approaches to help your department manage organizational, operational and community risk.

Addresses specific challenges involved in incorporating a “risk management approach” into the delivery of fire department services.

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Mitigation of Occupational Violence to Firefighters and EMS Responders

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Mitigation of Occupational Violence to Firefighters and EMS Responders

Documents the causes of violence to firefighters and EMS responders, explains the risk factors, and presents opportunities to reduce or prevent violence.

Focus areas include characteristics of patient/perpetrator violence, estimates of violence, psychosocial impact and more.

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Critical Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service

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Critical Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service

Identifies resources, provides references, suggests tools, illustrates best practices and establishes goals and objectives for each issue to help departments improve firefighter safety, well-being and survival.

As a nation, we rely on the volunteer fire service every day to save lives and protect property in times of danger and disaster. In order to do so, volunteers must first be healthy, safe and able to respond.

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Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service

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Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service

Provides a basic understanding of radio communications technology, including hardware, policies and procedures, and human resource issues.

Focus areas include digital and analog radio, system design, portable radio selection and use, interoperability, and more.

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National Safety Culture Change Initiative

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National Safety Culture Change Initiative

Highlights fire and emergency service cultural aspects that contribute to occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities.

Focus areas include environmental factors, health and wellness, individual responsibility, seat belt usage, and more.

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Emergency Incident Rehabilitation

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Emergency Incident Rehabilitation

Learn more about the important topics related to emergency incident rehabilitation, including human physiology, operational issues, protective clothing, technology, tactical procedures and weather issues.

Emergency incident rehabilitation can prevent serious and life-threatening conditions — such as heat stroke and heart attacks — from occurring.

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