Fire Rescue Wellness

Travis Howze's life has been riddled with trauma and challenges. He is a Marine Corps Veteran and served previously as both a law enforcement officer and a firefighter. Travis lost his job as a firefighter through his inability to confront his previous trauma, which culminated in the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire, where he lost nine coworkers. Travis was on the body recovery team, and of course, that deeply impacted him.

Through his life story, including his time as a professional stand-up comedian, he became the ultimate storyteller. He uses his previous experiences to impact audiences worldwide with his speaking tour Post-Traumatic Purpose.

I'm honored to call this man a friend, thanks to our mutual friend Michelle Adams-Arent. Thank you, Michelle, for introducing me to this incredible human.

So what, now what?

Being a 'hard human' gets in the way of being a kind, gentle, and full-filled human, and your family is often collateral damage when you don't get the help you need.

Follow Travis on IG

Check out his speaking tour

Purchase Travis' first book

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Welcome to Part IV of my series featuring the South Metro (CO) Fire. I had a wonderful conversation with Chief Bob Baker. You're going to love the interview and his philosophy!

Chief Baker began his career in the Fire Service at the Parker Fire District as a firefighter in 1984 and served in numerous capacities since then, including engineer, lieutenant, and battalion chief.  Chief Baker has been a Chief Officer since 1990 and served as Training Chief from 1994 to 1997 and Chief of Administration from 2002 until 2004. While serving as the Operations Chief, from 2004 to 2014, he was instrumental in ensuring the successful consolidation of the Parker Fire District and South Metro Fire Rescue into an Authority in 2008. In 2014, he assumed the role of Fire Chief.  In 2018, SMFR consolidated with the Cunningham Fire Protection District, and in 2019, with the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District, City of Littleton, and Littleton Fire Protection District. The current SMFR covers over 287 square miles and 550,000 residents in 12 cities across three counties in the southern metropolitan area of Denver.

His educational background includes an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from Red Rocks Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Bellevue University, an academic Public Policy and Administration certification from the University of Colorado, and a Master's Degree in Executive Leadership from Grand Canyon University. He is an Executive Fire Officer Program graduate of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD., Leadership Douglas County, and the Rocky Mountain Leadership Program. He was awarded the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He has his Fire Officer III certification and recently attained "Member" status with the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). 

Chief Baker strongly believes in "service before self," treating citizens like family members and providing strong financial stewardship in the community. He lives in the SMFR district with his wife of 40 years, Denise, and his Mother-in-Law, Sheryl. Bob and Denise are blessed with three children and seven grandchildren.

So what, now what?

South Metro's HPO program is robust! But they started small with a significant and meaningful intervention. That's the key. Even when starting small, make sure that your first step is impactful! I do not believe is asking for MORE than you need. But I firmly believe that intentionally asking for LESS just to ensure you get something is a mistake. Ask for what you need to get started! Then, grow the program.

South Metro Website

Follow SMFR on social media by searching South Metro PIO

Check out their YouTube Channel

Here's the book that Bob mentioned: The Tyranny of the Urgent

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I met the mighty Jill Joyce through the Jay Dawes connection in 2020, and we immediately hit it off. Dr. Joyce has a no-nonsense approach to fueling and understands first responders and the military since her family is full of them! She absolutely CRUSHED her talk at our first 7-Minute Science in November and you're going to love her as a FRW Podcast guest.

In nerdy terms, Jill Joyce is a professor at Oklahoma State University, the co-director of the Tactical Fitness and Nutrition Lab (or TFAN), and a Registered Dietitian. In non-nerdy terms, she is the OSU food lady who is good at tricking people into eating healthy, most of the time without them even realizing it, especially tactical athletes. Improving the health, fitness, and occupational performance of tactical athletes, and their families, is Jill’s passion because she is the granddaughter, God-daughter, and cousin of firefighters, the daughter-in-law and sister-in-law of law enforcement officers, and every type of family member to, especially the wife of, Army and Navy Veterans.

As a family member and clinician, Jill sees the toll the job takes first responders during and after service and is frustrated by how little exists to help us. Jill’s goal is to make sure first responders and the military has the support, programs, and resources we need on the health and nutrition side of things to be the best tactical athlete while on the job and then max out that pension with the highest quality of life in retirement.

So what, now what??

There are six easy ways to improve our nutrition:

Make 'good' food more normal, attractive and convenient!

Make 'less good' choices less normal, attractive and convenient!

It's just that simple!

ISSN Position Stand on Tactical Athlete Fueling

Email Jill [email protected]

Get involved in the free Zoom training

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Sometimes you meet someone and you just know  they're going to be special and important to you. This week's guest has absolutely nothing to do with the fire service other than being the engineer on several fire related podcasts.

Today I welcomed my friend and FRW Podcast producer, Jeremiah Douglas. Jeremiah is a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day and I've so enjoyed working on OUR  podcast together since September 2022.

I went into the city to record this episode and what an adventure it was! From J getting locked IN the building to our trip for to Oiistar for Ramen...it was non-stop laughs. Pro-tip: as much as you want to use an ice scraper as a halligan bar for forcible entry (or exit in this case), it's not going to work.

So what, now what?

Living life in an intentional and joyful manner improves quality by 10,000% (it's science).

Follow J on the 'gram!

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South Metro Fire has one of the most impressive and robust health and wellness programs of any agency in the United States. They run their program on the model of Human Performance Optimization (HPO) which includes physical and mental health, medical monitoring, and so much more.

This is Part III of a multi-part series where I sit down and speak with various providers at the agency. Today's episode features Tommy Gayfield, one of the three Strength and Conditioning Coaches on the HPO team.

If you missed part II, you can catch it here:  CLICK

Tommy Gayfield is one of the three South Metro Fire Rescue Strength and Conditioning coaches under the Human Performance Optimization (HPO) bureau, located in the Denver Metro area. Prior to the tactical field, Gayfield worked at the University of Michigan with men’s soccer and men’s lacrosse from 2016–2020. Prior to joining the Michigan staff, Gayfield worked with EXOS as a performance specialist from 2011–2016. Tommy is currently certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), USA Weightlifting (USAW) Level 1, CrossFit as a Level 1 Trainer, EXOS as a Performance Specialist (XPS), and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (SCCC). Gayfield is originally from St. Louis, Missouri.

So what, now what?

Culture change is slow, but if you catch all of the candidates in their academy or probationary time, pretty soon, you'll have most of the department indoctrinated into wellness!

Contact Tommy: [email protected]

Check out SMFR's Wellness Website

*****
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Sign up for 7-Minute Science V2.0 on 1.22.24 at noon central!!!

South Metro Fire has one of the most impressive and robust health and wellness programs of any agency in the United States. They run their program on the model of Human Performance Optimization (HPO) which includes physical and mental health, medical monitoring, and so much more.

This is Part II of a multi-part series where I sit down and speak with various providers at the agency. Today's episode features Kelsey Bailey, a performance dietitian who contracts with the agency to work with personnel on their nutrition.

If you missed part I, you can catch it here: CLICK

Kelsey Bailey is a Performance Dietitian for her LLC, B.Well. She spent 7 and a half years with Special Operations and is currently a consulting Performance Dietitian with the Colorado Rockies, Colorado Avalanche, South Metro Fire Rescue, and Lakewood Police Department. Her areas of specialty include performance nutrition and understanding the unique demands of the tactical world on one's physiology. Her special interest areas include optimizing health and performance related to sleep, stress management, job performance and prevention of long-term disease. She also has a vested interest in allostatic load and nutrition support, care for traumatic brain injury, heavy metal and environmental exposures, and GI recovery and support. She offers both individual consults and education sessions for teams or groups.

So what, now what?

Nutrition is critical for wellness, health and performance. Work with a sports/performance dietitian for best results!

Email Kelsey: [email protected]

Check out Kelsey's Website

Follow BWell on IG

Download the CPSDA Document

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Sign up for 7-Minute Science V2.0 on 1.22.24 at noon central!!!

South Metro Fire has one of the most impressive and robust health and wellness programs of any agency in the United States. They run their program on the model of Human Performance Optimization (HPO) which includes physical and mental health, medical monitoring, and so much more.

This is Part I of a multi-part series where I sit down and speak with various providers at the agency. Today's episode features Chris Macklin, the agency's Health and Wellness Director. Chris has an impressive pedigree in the fire service and you're going to love what he has to say!

Check out Chris' Bio here

So what, now what?

There's no downside to taking excellent care of agency's personnel. SMFR is setting the standard. Look in their direction if you need ideas for your agency!

Email Chris: [email protected]

Check out South Metro's Wellness Website

*****
Register for 7-Minute Science here

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FRW20 at Fluid Nutrition

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The SWAG store is open for the holiday season!

There are usually only a few instances in a lifetime where thought processes get turned 180 degrees. For me, meeting Anna Hartman was one of those instances.

Anna is an incredible practitioner with a unique approach to assessment and treatment; unlike most hands-on clinicians, she can guarantee results for her clients and patients! I recently completed Anna's LTAP (Location Treatment and Assessment Protocol) course, and my mind was blown!

Anna Hartman MS, ATC, CSCS, is  an Athletic Trainer with 20 years of experience working with athletes in the NFL, MLB, NBA, USTA, WTA, PGA, LPGA, NHL, MLS, and Athletics. She is also a comprehensively trained Pilates instructor (Polestar Pilates), A 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga instructor, and a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach. Since 2013, Anna has been studying and practicing The Barral Institute's™ Visceral, Neural, Vascular, and Articular Manipulation techniques for assessment and manual therapy, as well as exploring the integration of osteopathic philosophies within my movement, rehabilitation, and performance methods. As the founder of MovementREV, LLC, Anna is a private consultant to professional athletes in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and track and field. Anna provides mentorship and professional education to other sports healthcare professionals through online education programs and speaks internationally at various symposiums and conferences. Previously, Anna was one of the original team members of EXOS (formerly Athlete's Performance™) and spent the first 11 years of her career in various roles at EXOS, including the Director of Performance Physical Therapy and co-creator of EXOS Performance Physical Therapy methodology.

So what, now what?

Simply understanding that an unhappy liver or cranial nerve could be the root of a pain and injury cycle provides so much hope and power for firefighters who are suffering!

Email Anna: [email protected]

Anna's website

Grab the FREE Swelling Protocol PDF

Order a Corgeous or Yoga-tune-up ball

Follow MovementREV on IG

*****
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FRW20 at Fluid Nutrition

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The FRW Swag Store is open!

This week's episode was a conversation 5 years in the making. Scott and I bonded on the 'gram over rescue puppies in 2018. In December of that year, he adopted my dog bestie, ATM (Alfie the Mini), and we've been great friends ever since.

Scott hosted me as a guest on Episode 65 of the NSCA Coaching Podcast when our roles were quite different. I was a firefighter just getting my feet underneath me within the firefighter health and wellness space, and Scott was the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach and Coaching Program Manager for the NSCA (and most definitely NOT a firefighter). Hear how our lives have changed in 4 years since that interview!

Scott Caulfield's Bio

So what, now what?

Even within the volunteer fire service, health and wellness interventions can exist...sometimes you have to know who to ask!

Follow Scott on IG

Follow ATM on IG

Check out Scott's website

Check out Norwich University

*****
Register for 7-Minute Science here

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Get on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in Fire

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Discount Code:

FRW20 at Fluid Nutrition

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*****
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

Discount Code:

FRW20 at Fluid Nutrition

Affiliate Links

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Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!