Firefighter Health, Wellness Research Gets Big Role at U.S. Fire Administration Summit
In only its second year, the Science to the Station firefighter health and wellness conference will be co-located with the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md. The conference runs Oct. 5-6. A meeting of currently funded FEMA researchers is Oct. 7; it is open to the public. The USFA Summit is Oct. 8.
Science to the Station, Powered by FRCE will feature more than 25 recognized fire service health and wellness experts covering a variety of topics including health messaging, concussions, reproductive health, personal protective equipment, lithium ion batteries, heat stress and more.
“When we started Science to the Station, we knew there was a need to better disseminate health and wellness information to the fire service,” says Kepra Jack, owner of HeartFit for Duty and vice president and founding member of Science to the Station. “We just didn’t know if the fire service understood that need. But our membership numbers, our conference attendance and now this co-location with the Summit shows that the fire service does get it. There’s a real hunger out there for evidence-driven information on how to stay healthy in this job.”
Yet, organizers see this as a victory, not as a victory lap.
“We are living through an exciting and crucial moment in fire service history,” says Sara Jahnke, Science to the Station founder and president. “Health and wellness research and outcomes matter. This conference will be bigger and better than our maiden voyage last year. We couldn’t be more grateful to USFA and the First Responder Center for Excellence for giving Science to the Station such a huge gust of wind in our sails. We will build on this momentum to keep bringing the best scientific information to firefighters using regional and national platforms.”
Use this link to register for either Nerdstock, the Summit or both. USFA is making free housing available on the NFA campus. Space is limited with more than a third of the spots already taken. Registration is free.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to learn about how research is changing firefighter wellness, and do it at such a beautiful and historic setting,” Jahnke says. “as well as attend the Summit, one of the most important fire service events of the year.”
About Science to the Station
Science to the Station is a membership-driven group with a mission to foster collaboration and communication between subject matter experts and frontline public safety personnel to translate and disseminate evidence-informed health, wellness, and safety education and interventions. The group aims to become the key resource where science informs practice and practice informs science for public safety. Learn more about the group and how to join here.
