Today's Spotlight episode features my advisor, Dr. Jay Dawes. We explored topics such as fit for duty, the validation of fitness standards, and the occasional arbitrariness that can exist within public safety standards. Listen to the original episode here. ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

South Metro Fire is making significant strides in human performance optimization, and today’s episode features Dr. Carrie Burns and PA Jeremy Gage. This dedicated medical team is identifying hidden heart disease and saving lives. Tune in to learn about the CCTA and AI-assisted scanning process used at SMFR. Dr. Burns joined South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) in 2022 as their full-time Wellness and Occupational Physician. Her career began in emergency medicine, training at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, one of the nation's oldest emergency medicine residencies. Her interest in EMS led to a multi-year position as Medical Director for Northern Arizona, where she oversaw more than ten ground and air agencies covering a vast area including the Navajo Reservation, Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and the Verde Valley. Recently, she received the 2024 Nancy C. Burke Innovation in Public Safety Athletic Training award for her work using Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) as a screening tool for firefighters. Dr. Burns is honored to serve the line members and staff at SMFR and proud to lead their exceptional Wellness Bureau. Jeremy Gage has worked at SMFR Wellness since January 2024. A graduate of the University of Colorado CHA/PA Program, he worked in Family Medicine before joining SMFR Wellness. His professional interests include preventative care, chronic disease management, and medical education. He is also a guest lecturer at the University of Colorado CHA/PA program’s Cardiovascular-Pulmonary block. So what, now what?!? Risk stratification, EKG, and a calcium score might not be enough for diagnosing cardiovascular disease in firefighters! Check out the other episodes from SMFR (linked below)! Chris Macklin , Tommy Gayfield , Kelsey Bailey and Chief Baker Carrie.Burns@southmetro.org jeremy.gage@southmetro.org ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

This week's spotlight features Nate Palin, former Tactical Manager at the NSCA and current owner of AGD-Any Given Day. Nate talks about hiring professionals, using personnel as force multipliers and recognizing the value of mental health interventions. Listen to the original episode here . ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

Register for the Women's Tactical Summit! <-- that's a clickable link! Zig Markowski is married to Jennifer, a line-of-duty disabled police officer. He is the father of Ziggy and Aubrey and stepdad to Anthony. He joined the Navy at 17 and trained as an Aviation Electronics Technician in Millington, TN, followed by additional schooling at Cecil Field, FL. He was then stationed at NAS North Island in San Diego and deployed in 1998–99 with VS-29 on the USS Carl Vinson. After leaving the Navy, Zig pursued a career in emergency services. He completed EMT-B school at the College of DuPage in 2000, followed by the fire academy and paramedic school at Christ Hospital in 2001. During this time, he worked at Lemont FPD before joining his current department on March 19, 2002. He was promoted to Lieutenant in November 2022. Injury Resume 1999 : Lower back sprain (per Navy medical records) 2006 : Knee arthroscopy 2016 : Neck injury in January, fusion surgery in August 2019 : Left shoulder surgery in the fall 2020 : Neck injury shortly after clearance from shoulder surgery, resulting in herniation above and below the fusion (approximately February) 2022 : Second shoulder surgery in the summer after falling into a river during a class in April Countless other tweaks and strains So What, Now What?!? Injuries in the fire service aren’t inevitable, but they are likely. Staying fit and healthy reduces risk and potentially speeds up recovery and return to work. A strong mental outlook is crucial in the process, helping firefighters push through setbacks and come back stronger. ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

In this Spotlight, Lt. Andy Scott talks about the evolution of the health and wellness program at the Plainfield (IL) fire district. Here about some of the wins and lessons during Andy's tenure as the director of the program. Listen to the original episode here . ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

This week’s episode didn’t exactly go as planned… let’s just say the audio was a total mess. So, here’s the emergency episode—recorded in a quick 15 minutes before bedtime! 😅 In this one, I explain the power of making connections, how to do it effectively, and the best way to phrase your question when seeking help from subject matter experts. So what, now what?!? If you need help, ask for it! But remember, expertise has value—so be ready to compensate subject matter experts for their time and knowledge. Shout out to my previous podcast guest, Kenny Mitchell Jr for a great commute conversation this morning. Listen to Kenny's episode here . ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

In this Spotlight episode, Troy Torrence shares insights on physical training in large academy classes and how the Indiana State Police has shifted away from using fitness as a form of punishment. Instead, Troy emphasizes a proactive approach focused on building up cadets and preparing them for long-term success. ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

If you listened to the episode, you know I’m running a care-package giveaway. Be sure to follow the instructions—I’ll draw the winner on February 18, 2025 . In today’s episode, I discussed advocating for yourself with your primary care physician. I didn’t cover advanced heart health screening, but stay tuned— Dr. Carrie Burns from South Metro Fire will be diving into that in a couple of weeks. So what, now what?! No one will advocate for you better than you . Pay attention, take care of yourself, and prioritize your health. Description for your PCP of firefighter basics -yes, this form says "for the pregnant firefighter," but it's a pretty darn good summary of the basics your PCP should know! ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

Dr. Maura Shea breaks down the return on investment for Athletic Training services in this week's FRW Podcast Spotlight. ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

Science to the Station 7-Minute Science 🔥 Women's Tactical Human Performance Summit 🔥 In this episode, Dr. Brittany Hollerbach and AZ take on NYC and dive into the world of firefighter research —how to formulate study designs, get involved in research studies, and make an impact in the field. 🚒 So what, now what?!? We break down the next steps for those interested in tactical research and performance. Pro tip: 🎭 When you can see TWO Broadway shows in one day… DO IT! Tune in for an insightful (and fun!) episode! 🎧🔥 ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

Today's Spotlight features the one and only Dr. Creatine, Scott Forbes, Ph.D. Scott riffs on the value of creatine in the brain and how it might help firefighters function better when sleep-deprived. ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

Get registered for the Women's Tactical Human Performance Summit! Now with 8.5 Cat A BOC CEUs (for our athletic trainers) Jon Vought is a firefighter/paramedic in South Florida who’s been on the job since 2009 and currently holds the rank of Captain. He’s a second-generation firefighter, plays the bagpipes for his fire department, and runs his department’s cadet youth group. In 2020, Jon started Rescue 1 CBD with the mission of bringing the benefits of the hemp plant to firefighters without the fear of failing a drug test and is currently coordinating a medical study with U.S. Firefighters using Rescue 1 CBD products. So what, now what?!? CBD has many benefits, including improving sleep and helping decrease inflammation, two things that firefighters could use. Follow Jon on IG Check out the website Email Jon: jon@rescue1cbd.com Hang out with us at Science to the Station Listen to Dr. Brittany Hollerbach's episode. Check out Lex's tutorial on 'link in bio" and why you shouldn't use Linktree! ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

Dr. Katie Dabrowski is a co-owner of Old Bull Athletics in Florida, and she and her business partner, Frankie, have turned physical therapy care upside down. In today's Spotlight, Katie talks about getting patients better by challenging them with appropriately dosed strength and conditioning. ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

Women's Tactical Human Performance Summit 7-Minute Science We all have "those nights" at the firehouse, but are they a chronic problem or an acute challenge? Our best practice approach to both situations involves forethought and planning because our brains will almost surely let us fail without a safety net for success. So what, now what?!? Self-awareness is a superpower. Surviving sleep deprivation either unscathed or lightly impacted involves planning ahead. What can you do TODAY to soften and mitigate the impact of the sleep deprivation that's coming your way? Call to action: Are you enjoying the FRW podcast? Please give me a rating and a review on your favorite platform, then share the episode with a friend or on your social media channels. Listen to Dr. Jagim, my new research collaborator here . Listen to Anna Hartman's episode here . ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…

Wendy Lund is the CEO of Wellth Management and teaches mindfulness to first responders. In today's Spotlight episode she reminds us that teaching first responder emotional management is every bit as important as teaching advanced airways. Check out the full episode here . ***** Register for 7-Minute Science here Purchase FRW Swag here Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire Follow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials... IG | LinkedIn | Twitter Affiliate Links Check out my Fringe Affiliate Link Check out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)! Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)! Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!…