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USFA Blog

Health and Safety

Current Issues
woman wearing an N95 mask looking out at her smoky neighborhood
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Minimizing the effects of wildfire smoke

Posted: June 8, 2023
Current Issues
2 firefighters marching in a Pride parade
  • Events
  • Leadership

Celebrating Pride Month

Updated: May 31, 2023
InfoGram
firefighting foam used during a vehicle fire
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Hazmat
  • Health & Safety

Firefighting foams: PFAS vs. fluorine-free foams

Posted: May 25, 2023
InfoGram
firefighter demonstration in-suit communication
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Health & Safety

In-suit communications evaluation video

Posted: May 18, 2023
InfoGram
firefighter putting on gear
  • Hazmat
  • Health & Safety

New information on potential carcinogens in firefighter gear

Posted: May 11, 2023
InfoGram
mountain highway auto accident
  • Data
  • Health & Safety

Start using ReportStruckBy.com… it could save your life

Posted: May 4, 2023
Current Events
America Burning
  • Events

America Burning: 50 years of fire safety and prevention

Posted: May 4, 2023
Current Issues
wildflowers with homes in the background
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Include everyone in wildfire safety and prevention efforts this year

Posted: May 4, 2023
InfoGram
autism decal
  • EMS

Autism resources for first responders

Posted: April 27, 2023
InfoGram
firefighters fighting off a large wildfire
  • Training
  • Wildfire & WUI

2023 Wildland fire safety training annual refresher

Posted: April 21, 2023
InfoGram
hazmat team at a railroad tanker incident
  • Data
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Hazmat

CBRNResponder: FEMA’s one-stop shop for CBRN incident management and data sharing

Posted: April 13, 2023
InfoGram
electric bike stand
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Health & Safety
  • Hazmat

2023 Firefighter Safety Stand Down focuses on lithium-ion batteries

Posted: April 6, 2023
InfoGram
Photo of opioids in a bag
  • EMS
  • Hazmat

Reducing first responder occupational exposures to opioids

Posted: March 30, 2023
InfoGram
Photo of firefighters huddled together on duty
  • Wildfire & WUI

Implementing a new model for management of large wildland fire incidents

Posted: March 23, 2023
InfoGram
Photo of firefighters demonstrating the use of wildland fire shelters
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Wildfire & WUI

Wildland fire shelter safety warning

Posted: March 16, 2023
InfoGram
Photo of a person using VR while using a laptop
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Training

Immersive learning: an important part of fire service training

Posted: March 9, 2023
InfoGram
Photo of a person donating blood
  • Health & Safety
  • Hazmat

Firefighters: Donating blood may reduce PFAS levels in your blood

Posted: March 2, 2023
Current Issues
Solar panels installed on fire station
  • CRR
  • Planning

Sustainable energy and conservation solutions for fire departments

Posted: March 8, 2023
Current Issues
Electrical vehicle charging
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Hazmat
  • Health & Safety

Fire and EMS: Be alert for alternative fuel vehicle conversions

Posted: March 1, 2023
Current Issues
community hillside fire
  • Wildfire & WUI
  • CRR

Fire protection engineers: Key players in solving the wildland urban interface fire problem

Posted: Feb. 24, 2023
InfoGram
Home energy storage system
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Hazmat

Guidance for energy storage systems technologies

Posted: Feb. 23, 2023
InfoGram
Pendar spectrometer
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Hazmat

Technology assessment completed for hazard identification tool

Posted: Feb. 16, 2023
InfoGram
firefighters in ladder bucket with drone nearby
  • Data
  • Equipment & Technology

Privacy and data protection guidance for drone users

Posted: Feb. 2, 2023
InfoGram
lithium battery
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Health & Safety
  • Hazmat

Free training on fire and explosion hazards from lithium-ion batteries

Posted: Jan. 26, 2023
InfoGram
wildfire in homes on hillside
  • Wildfire & WUI

The chemistry of fires in the wildland urban interface

Posted: Jan. 26, 2023
InfoGram
canine and handler working at incident scene
  • Fire Investigation

Available from FEMA: Canine team resource typing documents

Posted: Jan. 19, 2023
InfoGram
firefighters putting patient into an ambulance at the scene of a car accident after dark
  • Health & Safety
  • Training

Free training course on use of personal protective equipment for roadway incident response

Posted: Jan. 12, 2023
Current Issues
firefighters on hoseline in smoky environment
  • Health & Safety

Help reduce firefighter cancer: Join the National Firefighter Registry

Updated: April 17, 2023
InfoGram
flooded highway with stranded cars
  • CRR
  • Planning

New FEMA report summarizes state of national preparedness

Posted: Jan. 5, 2023
Current Issues
The White House
  • Fire Investigation

President Biden signs legislation to investigate major fires

Posted: Dec. 27, 2022
InfoGram
FDNY paramedics placing patient in ambulance
  • EMS
  • Health & Safety

EMS resources for this winter's respiratory virus surge

Posted: Dec. 22, 2022
Current Issues
firefighter looking forward
  • EMS
  • Health & Safety

Increasing the focus on fire and EMS behavioral health

Posted: Dec. 15, 2022
InfoGram
wildland firefighter wearing respirator
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Health & Safety
  • Wildfire & WUI

A new assessment of wildland firefighter respirators

Posted: Dec. 15, 2022
InfoGram
GPS location concept
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Planning

Establishing agreements for Next Generation 911

Posted: Dec. 8, 2022
InfoGram
putting on medical gloves
  • EMS
  • Health & Safety

Evidence-based infection prevention and control recommendations for the EMS/911 workforce

Posted: Dec. 1, 2022
InfoGram
man with closed fist looking toward an emergency vehicle
  • EMS
  • Health & Safety

New workplace violence policy recommendations to protect fire-based EMS providers

Posted: Nov. 17, 2022
Current Issues
fire engine and ambulance
  • All

EMR — ISAC: Making vital, timely, actionable emergency services sector information easily accessible

Posted: Nov. 16, 2022
InfoGram
firefighter looking up at a window with fire coming out of it
  • Health & Safety
  • Training

Mayday: Train to use the portable radio emergency alert button

Posted: Nov. 10, 2022
InfoGram
community destroyed by wildfire
  • CRR
  • Planning

Now available: ASTM standard guide for community resilience

Posted: Nov. 3, 2022
Current Issues
caregiver pushing a man in a wheelchair
  • Planning
  • Wildfire & WUI

Mitigating losses incurred by vulnerable populations during wildfires

Posted: Oct. 28, 2022
InfoGram
911 dispatch control center
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Planning

Action steps to enhance 911 system cybersecurity

Posted: Oct. 27, 2022
InfoGram
flooded cars
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Health & Safety

Responding to electric vehicle fires caused by salt water flooding

Posted: Oct. 20, 2022
InfoGram
emergency operations center
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Planning

Updated: FEMA's EOC how-to quick reference guide

Posted: Oct. 13, 2022
InfoGram
EMTs treating a patient at a protest
  • EMS
  • Health & Safety

Protecting EMS responders from violence

Posted: Oct. 6, 2022
InfoGram
blood bags in storage
  • EMS

Pioneering advancements made in use of whole blood transfusions in prehospital settings

Posted: Sept. 22, 2022
InfoGram
multi-gas monitor
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Health & Safety

All firefighters need to be trained on multi-gas monitor use

Posted: Sept. 22, 2022
Current Issues
firefighter operating an aerial on a ladder truck
  • Funding

You'd be surprised how simple it is for your fire department to get grant money

Posted: Sept. 22, 2022
InfoGram
firefighters wearing ppe
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Health & Safety

Firefighter turnout gear associated with health risks

Posted: Sept. 15, 2022
InfoGram
man sitting on the floor and staring into the distance
  • Health & Safety

Suicide prevention resources for emergency responders

Posted: Sept. 8, 2022
InfoGram
portable radio transceivers
  • Equipment & Technology

Now available: Checklist for communications technology in training and exercises

Posted: Sept. 1, 2022
Current Issues
embers at night from the Camp Fire
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Protecting structures from wildfire embers and fire exposures

Posted: Sept. 1, 2022
InfoGram
air medical transport helicopters
  • EMS

Free resources on establishing safe landing zones for air medical transport

Posted: Aug. 25, 2022
InfoGram
2 men riding in a car with a navigation system
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Wildfire & WUI

Next generation wildland urban interface alerting technology

Posted: Aug. 18, 2022
InfoGram
firefighter with firefighting foam surrounding him
  • Hazmat
  • Health & Safety

Major changes in firefighting foams suggest needs for different tactics and training

Posted: Aug. 11, 2022
InfoGram
woman sitting on the floor with her head in her hands
  • Health & Safety

Behavioral health resources for first responders

Posted: Aug. 4, 2022
InfoGram
man with monkeypox blisters on his hands
  • EMS

Updated guidance for EMS on monkeypox

Posted: July 28, 2022
InfoGram
dextrose
  • EMS

Critical shortage of dextrose is forcing EMS to adapt protocols

Posted: July 21, 2022
InfoGram
firefighter using a halligan bar in a smokey environment
  • Health & Safety

International study finds that “occupational exposure as a firefighter causes cancer”

Posted: July 14, 2022
InfoGram
subway tunnel
  • Equipment & Technology

Assessment of portable radio repeaters for indoor and subterranean environments

Posted: July 7, 2022
InfoGram
SCBA
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Health & Safety

NIOSH safety notifications for respirator equipment

Posted: June 30, 2022
InfoGram
firefighter putting water on a car fire
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Hazmat
  • Health & Safety

Emergency response guides for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries

Posted: June 23, 2022
InfoGram
fire station exterior
  • Planning
  • Terrorism

Critical infrastructure bomb threat awareness resources

Posted: June 16, 2022
InfoGram
hazmat team at a rail yard
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Health & Safety

Wristbands track firefighter exposure to harmful chemicals

Posted: June 9, 2022
InfoGram
EMS providers attending to patient
  • EMS
  • Health & Safety

New manual helps departments develop an EMS safety program

Posted: June 2, 2022
InfoGram
monkeypox
  • EMS

Guidance on monkeypox for EMS providers

Posted: May 26, 2022
InfoGram
couple at counseling
  • Health & Safety

Mental health awareness for first responders

Posted: May 19, 2022
InfoGram
man throwing Molotov cocktail
  • Health & Safety
  • Planning
  • Terrorism

First responders and civil unrest

Posted: May 12, 2022
InfoGram
apartment building fire
  • Health & Safety
  • Training

Free training on the impact of ventilation on fire dynamics

Posted: May 5, 2022
Coffee Break
students conducting an experiment in the National Fire Academy Burn Lab
  • Fire Investigation
  • Training

Accelerate your professional development as a fire investigator

Posted: May 3, 2022
InfoGram
e-bike charging
  • CRR
  • Hazmat

Guidance on responding to lithium-ion battery fires in mobility devices

Posted: April 28, 2022
InfoGram
person caulking a gap in a window
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

How homeowners and communities can protect themselves from wildfires

Posted: April 21, 2022
InfoGram
blurred photo of an ambulance
  • EMS

Should the use of lights and sirens used in EMS responses be reduced?

Posted: April 14, 2022
Current Issues
female firefighters on hoseline during a training drill
  • Events
  • Health & Safety
  • Leadership

Supporting women in fire and EMS: the USFA commitment

Updated: April 3, 2023
Current Issues
African American fire chief riding in a car at a parade
  • CRR
    • Events Leadership

The U.S. Fire Administration celebrates Black History Month

Posted: Feb. 17, 2022
Coffee Break
fire sprinkler system inspection
  • Codes & Standards
  • CRR
  • Fire Investigation

The Fire Marshal Interchange: A free resource for information sharing

Posted: Feb. 3, 2022
Current Issues
residential highrise
  • Codes & Standards CRR

Protecting people who live or work in high-rises

Posted: Jan. 12, 2022
Coffee Break
older adults looking at content on a tablet
  • CRR
  • Equipment & Technology

Using social media to reach out to your community

Posted: Dec. 8, 2021
Current Issues
photo of a burned out room
  • Events
  • Fire Investigation

First responders: know your fire investigation role

Updated: Dec. 12, 2021
Coffee Break
testing laboratory
  • Codes & Standards
  • Equipment & Technology

How to contact a nationally recognized testing laboratory

Updated: Nov. 5, 2021
Coffee Break
multimedia developers
  • CRR
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Wildfire & WUI

Using multimedia to inform and inspire people to embrace fire safety

Posted: Nov. 4, 2021
Current Issues
child sleeping with mother in background
  • Codes & Standards
  • CRR
  • Equipment & Technology

High-frequency tone smoke alarms are not effective in waking sleeping pre-teenage children

Posted: Sept. 30, 2021
Current Issues
woman charging an electric vehicle
  • CRR
  • Equipment & Technology

Electric vehicle home charging: tips for your community

Posted: Aug. 18, 2021
InfoGram
firefighter at a car fire
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Hazmat

UL webinars share lithium-ion battery science for safe response

Posted: Aug. 12, 2021
InfoGram
wildland firefighters constructing a fireline
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Wildfire & WUI

Lightweight respirator on the way for wildland firefighters

Posted: Aug. 5, 2021
InfoGram
wildfire smoke in Portland, Oregon
  • CRR
  • Data
  • Wildfire & WUI

AirNow Fire and Smoke Map helps communities monitor air quality

Posted: July 22, 2021
Current Issues
sandbags in foreground, first responders in raft on flooded street in background
  • CRR
  • Planning
  • Wildfire & WUI

Is your fire and EMS department ready for climate change?

Posted: June 30, 2021
Current Issues
unattended camp fire
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Preventing outdoor activities from turning into wildfire disasters

Posted: June 8, 2021
Coffee Break
wildfire community meeting
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Effective communication can ignite wildfire safety engagement

Posted: Feb. 10, 2021
Current Issues
burned homes in Santa Rosa, California
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Interdependent factors can influence WUI fire home survivability

Posted: Feb. 10, 2021
Coffee Break
steel construction
  • Codes & Standards

Building construction special inspections: When are they required?

Updated: Jan. 8, 2021
Coffee Break
new home construction
  • Codes & Standards
  • Fire Sprinklers

Residential fire sprinklers save lives and money

Updated: Jan. 7, 2021
Coffee Break
fire at a shopping complex
  • Codes & Standards

The Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule

Updated: Jan. 7, 2021
Coffee Break
evacuation diagram
  • Codes & Standards
  • Planning

How to create a simple building evacuation diagram

Updated: Jan. 6, 2021
Current Issues
photo of a man and a woman staring looking at their destroyed home
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Post-wildfire recovery

Posted: Oct. 22, 2020
Current Issues
photo of a small Oregon town
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Include everyone in community wildfire preparedness

Posted: Sept. 22, 2020
Current Issues
pictograph illustrations
  • CRR

A pictograph is worth a thousand words

Posted: Sept. 3, 2020
Current Issues
homes destroyed by fire at Ocean Isle Beach
  • CRR

Hurricane Isaias shows why storm fire safety matters

Posted: Aug. 27, 2020
Coffee Break
community members meeting about wildfire projects
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Fire-adapted communities

Posted: Aug. 26, 2020
Current Issues
graphic examples
  • Health & Safety
  • Training
  • Wildfire & WUI

New graphics highlight wildland firefighter safety messaging

Posted: July 17, 2020
Coffee Break
photo of wildfire on a hillside with homes in the foreground
  • CRR
  • Planning
  • Wildfire & WUI

How to create a Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Posted: June 24, 2020
Current Issues
photo of an activated residential fire sprinkler head
  • Equipment & Technology
  • Fire Sprinklers

Retrofitting homes with lower cost sprinkler technologies

Posted: May 27, 2020
Coffee Break
photo of a backdraft explosion
  • Health & Safety

Recognizing backdraft conditions can save your life

Posted: May 19, 2020
Current Issues
photo of person installing gutter guards
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Doing the little things makes a difference in wildfire safety

Posted: May 11, 2020
Coffee Break
photo of a flashover in a living room
  • Health & Safety

Recognizing flashover conditions can save your life

Posted: May 5, 2020
Coffee Break
park in foreground with wildfire in background
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Addressing wildland fire challenges with the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy

Posted: April 21, 2020
Current Issues
photo of a marina
  • CRR

Fire onboard: safety tips for boaters in your community

Posted: March 23, 2020
Coffee Break
firefighters spraying AFFF
  • Health & Safety

The hidden dangers in firefighting foam

Posted: Feb. 11, 2020
Coffee Break
standpipe
  • Codes & Standards
  • Fire Sprinklers

Plan a better fire attack by understanding standpipe systems

Posted: Dec. 11, 2019
Coffee Break
fire hydrant cleared of snow
  • Codes & Standards
  • CRR

Prepare for winter weather fire protection challenges

Posted: Oct. 31, 2019
Coffee Break
firefighter showing smoke alarm to mom holding her daughter
  • CRR

Is your smoke alarm installation program a liability concern?

Posted: Oct. 8, 2019
Coffee Break
steel building construction
  • Codes & Standards

Inspecting fire-resistive steel construction for damage

Posted: Aug. 15, 2019
Current Issues
wildfire threatens home
  • CRR
  • Wildfire & WUI

Mitigating wildfire vulnerability: A community success story

Posted: July 16, 2019
Coffee Break
propane exchange stand
  • Codes & Standards
  • Hazmat

Required storage distances for LPG cylinder stands

Posted: July 26, 2019
Coffee Break
fire engine responding to a car fire
  • Hazmat
  • Health & Safety

Know the threats before you attack an electric vehicle fire

Posted: June 18, 2019
Coffee Break
fire engine with fireworks in the background
  • Codes & Standards
  • CRR
  • Hazmat

Educating the public about safe handling of fireworks

Posted: June 3, 2019
Coffee Break
water gauge with out of service sign
  • Codes & Standards
  • Fire Sprinklers

Planning for a fire protection system shut down

Posted: May 12, 2019
Coffee Break
temporary standpipe
  • Codes & Standards
  • Planning

Temporary standpipe systems

Posted: April 2, 2019
Coffee Break
building under renovation
  • Codes & Standards
  • Planning

Fire prevention at buildings under renovation or construction

Posted: March 19, 2019
Coffee Break
firefighter using a tablet
  • Training

Improving responder performance using job aids

Posted: Feb. 5, 2019
Coffee Break
open hands holding a padlock
  • Training

Student privacy rights: what training managers need to know

Posted: Nov. 27, 2018
Current Issues
paramedics treating a patient
  • EMS
  • Training

Training helps EMS workers identify human trafficking signs

Posted: Nov. 8, 2018
Current Issues
main street usa
  • CRR
  • Fire Sprinklers

Fire sprinkler tax incentives for small businesses

Posted: June 12, 2018
Current Issues
home boarded up with clear board
  • CRR

Clear boarding creates a ”no ply“ zone

Posted: April 17, 2018
Coffee Break
EMAC cover
  • CRR

How to make sure your fire safety messages are accurate

Posted: Feb. 21, 2018
Coffee Break
caregiver with an older adult
  • CRR

Reaching target populations with fire and life safety messages

Posted: Oct. 31, 2017
Coffee Break
firefighter using a computer
  • Data

When should you update your NFIRS reports?

Posted: Aug. 29, 2017
Coffee Break
firefighter making an escape plan with a family
  • CRR

How to improve your cross-cultural communication for risk reduction

Posted: Aug. 15, 2017
Coffee Break
binary data with a question mark
  • Data
  • Training

Where’s the data?

Posted: Aug. 3, 2017
Coffee Break
fire sprinkler system
  • Codes & Standards
  • Fire Sprinklers

Hydraulic system nameplates

Posted: July 31, 2017
Coffee Break
car ignition button that reads change, start
  • EMS

Quality management in Emergency Medical Services — Implementing change

Posted: July 11, 2017
Coffee Break
business man pointing at a bullseye
  • EMS

Quality management in Emergency Medical Services — Problem statement

Posted: July 6, 2017
Coffee Break
DMAIC
  • Data
  • EMS

Quality management in Emergency Medical Services — DMAIC

Posted: June 29, 2017
Coffee Break
checklist with the EMS symbol
  • EMS

Quality management in Emergency Medical Services

Posted: June 26, 2017