Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

2024 Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing program

USFS shield
Aug. 8, 2024 Update: Expanded Mental Health Resources for Federal Wildland Fire Personnel Deputy Chief John Crockett, State, Private, and Tribal Forestry We all know that wildland firefighting is a tough and physically dangerous job. But what often doesn’t get talked about enough is the mental toll it takes…
#InfrastructureInvestmentAndJobsAct, #Wellness, #Health, #MentalHealth, #InsideTheForestService

Arduous duty firefighters: Initiate your eMedical packets now

USFS shield
Firefighters on the 2017 Thomas Fire, Ventura, California. USDA Forest Service photo by Kari Greer. WASHINGTON, D.C.—Wildland firefighting isn't for the faint of heart—it's a job that demands grit, stamina and a healthy dose of courage. Picture this: You're out on the fire line managing a…
#FirefighterSafety, #Health, Human Health

HRM: Open season ends Dec. 11

USFS shield
Open season occurs once a year. During open season (Nov. 13 to Dec. 11), you may enroll, change or cancel your Federal Employee Health Benefits coverage. All changes must be made by Dec. 11.Federal Employee Health Benefit changes will become effective Jan. 14, 2024.Federal Flexible Spending…
#HumanResources, #Health

Exploring wellness initiatives: OSOH visits Fairfax County

USFS shield
The team visited the recently opened Public Safety Wellness Center, which provides therapy, counseling and mental health services to police officers, firefighters and other public officials. First responders face traumatic experiences daily on the job and the center focuses on their mental…
#Safety, #Health

2023 National Defense Authorization Act and Cancer: What firefighters need to know

USFS shield
  In December 2022, the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. Section 5305 titled “Fairness for Federal Firefighters,” identified that certain conditions will be “presumed” to be work-related for “federal employees in fire protection activities.” The list of presumptive illnesses…
#Firefighters, #FirefighterSafety, #Health, #FireAndAviationManagement

Stress First Aid

USFS shield
table, th, td { border: 1px solid; border-color: #96D4D4; border-collapse: collapse; } Stress First Aid is a framework to improve recovery from stress reactions, both in oneself and in coworkers. Stress First Aid was originally designed to support military personnel, and subsequently tailored to support a wide range of occupations, including wildland firefighters, emergency services…
#EmergencyResponse, #Employees, #Health, #HumanResources, #MentalHealth, #PTSD, #Safety, #EmergencyServices