Fire Rescue Wellness

There are many different health and wellness professionals that can positively impact firefighters and fire departments. I talk a lot about Athletic Trainers, but in today's FRW Spotlight I shine the light on the others. You can hear the original episode here.

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This episode originally aired in the spring of 2023, long before I knew I’d one day call Oklahoma home.

This past Saturday, I attended the 30th anniversary ceremony of the Oklahoma City Bombing. A recurring theme throughout the event was the “Oklahoma Standard”—a powerful way of showing up for others that I’ve now witnessed firsthand.

After the ceremony, I spoke with my mentor, Jorge Carvajal, about his experience. I learned for the first time that he responded to the bombing as part of a FEMA team, spending 16 days at the site searching for victims. We had never talked about it before.

So what, now what?!?

Chris Fields has a powerful story, and you need to hear it.

Chris Fields is a former member of the Oklahoma City Fire Department, Chris joined the fire department on July 12, 1985, was promoted through the ranks, and retired as a Major on March 1, 2017, serving the citizens of Oklahoma City for 31 yrs and 7 months. Chris was captured in a photo that became an iconic symbol of the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995 when he was cradling the body of 1-year-old Baylee Almon. Chris is now dedicating his life to traveling and speaking to other first responders, discussing the brutal realities of a life spent responding to citizens in their darkest hours. Chris tells the story of his life, his 31 years of public service, and how that day in 1995 all combined to take a toll on his life and his family, he suffered in silence for many years. Now he shares how with God, Faith, and Family, he took control and his journey out of the suffering in hopes of helping others avoid the failure, the pitfalls, and to reach out.

Chris also serves as a Fire Liaison on the Advisory Board for Survive First, a 501 C3 organization whose mission is to assist 1st Responders, military and their families who need mental health support from the impact of PTSD, and substance abuse. He is also Co-founder and co-host of a webinar, Trauma Behind the Badge. Chris also serves as a member of the Oklahoma First Responder Wellness Division, giving back to the First Responders who serve and protect the citizens of Oklahoma.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Trauma Behind the Badge

Vicarious Trauma Toolkit

Contact Chris: [email protected]

*****
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In today's Spotlight Episode, Joey Antonio riffs on sport supplements and how telling a story is important when educating. You can hear the entire original episode here.

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Today’s guest is Dr. Jay Dawes—one of the pioneers in tactical performance and research. Jay and I first connected nearly six years ago, and now we’re colleagues at Oklahoma State University.

In this episode, we explore what it means to find balance in training. Jay shares a memorable analogy about plate spinners at the circus—when one plate starts to wobble, it just needs a small touch to start spinning again. It’s a simple but powerful reminder for managing training priorities.

So what, now what?!?

We also explore the concept of minimum effective dose—a critical principle for the fire service. Most firefighters don’t have the luxury (or desire) to train 10+ hours weekly. That’s why efficiency and intentionality matter: creating maximum impact with minimal time.

Download a training template based on today's episode

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In this week's FRW Spotlight Episode, AZ digs into the challenges with DIY. Tune in and make sure to share the episode with another agency!

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Hop back and listen to Arati's previous episode here!

Now, jump over and donate to our fundraiser. In her first episode, Arati mentioned that she would not eat a donut for $2000. It would take $2001. We're raising a minimum of $2001, which will make Arati eat a donut from Glazed and Confused. She doesn't know it, but I'll probably make her live stream it on Instagram.

All funds will be donated to Fund the First, which supports Lt. Michael Hoosock and Officer Michael Jensen's families. Lt. 'Hootch' of the Onondaga County (NY) Sheriff's Office (and former DC of the Moyer's Corner Fire Department) and Officer Michael Jensen of the Syracuse Police Department were shot and killed in the line of duty on 4.14.24. 

Donate here!

So what, now what?!?

This episode was CHAOS in the best way possible. I got to meet Arati's chief and some of her coworkers. Manilus has something special going on!

Arati's friends:

Chief Jansen Casscles

Firefighter Zachary Whalen

Lt. Michael Gabriel

Milkshakers (who didn't speak, lol):

Firefighter Jacob Seager

Firefighter Ryan Inglis

*****
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In this week's Spotlight, Shante Cofield, the Movement Maestro will hit you in the feels regarding joy. Listen to the original episode here.

*****
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I had no idea how many great people I'd meet within OKC Fire when I moved here 6.1.24. Today I introduce you to J Lo! He's the 5th OKC fire personnel that's appeared on the FRW Podcast and I can't wait for you to hear about the OKC Fire internal rescue survey, the national Fire Rescue Survey and his contribution to the Book of Search.

Justin “J Lo” Lorenzen is married to his high school sweetheart, Raquel, going on 20 years and has two boys, Noah 15yo and Braxton 12yo. He started in the fire service in 2005 at a rural combination department about 30 miles south of the metro and was there for 3 years before getting hired at OKCFD. He’s currently a Lt./Paramedic on the south side of Oklahoma City at station 7/C, “Capitol Hill Creepers”, where he drives Battalion 603. 

Justin served as a training officer for 3 years in OKCFD’s training division. He’s currently the president for OKC’s local F.O.O.L.S chapter, Mid-America F.O.O.L.S OKC Metro, as well as a small part of Firefighter Rescue Survey (Internal Survey Implementation). He developed and implemented the OKCFD Grabs Survey that went live in 2020 allowing the Oklahoma City fire department to track their civilian rescues and contribute to Firefighter Rescue Survey. Justin had an article published in Fire Engineering Magazine titled The Oklahoma City Story: Tracking Grabs with Firefighter Rescue Survey – Fire Engineering: Firefighter Training and Fire Service News, Rescue in 2021 as well as an article in the “Book Of Search” titled “Recording Our Rescues To Drive Our Mission”.

Throughout his career Justin has taught at several conferences and training events both locally and nationally. Justin has been a Guest on The Weekly Scrap, Fire Nuggets Podcast, Crew 1st Culture Podcast, Journeyman Fire Podcast, H&H Undisclosed Agents Podcast and Relentless Rejects Podcast. Justin is a member of the Firefighter Rescue Survey team and has assisted multiple other departments in developing their own internal rescue tracking system and contributing to the national rescue survey. His passion is Search and all things training and most importantly leaving the job better than he found it!

So what, now what?!?

It's not clear until WE say it's clear. Search shouldn't change regardless of the report on scene.

Check out the Rescue Survey

Read Justin's Article in Fire Engineering

Purchase the Book of Search on Amazon

Catch J Lo presenting at MidAmerican F.O.O.L.S. Spring Break your Habits (5.2-5.3.2025), Great Lakes HOT and the Firemanship conference!

Contact J Lo: [email protected]

*****
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FRW20 at Fluid Nutrition

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In this Spotlight Episode, Katie Hirsch, Ph.D. riffs on how HIIT might be important for firefighters. Listen to the original episode here.

*****
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FRW20 at Fluid Nutrition

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Register for the Women's Tactical Summit!

Get on the waitlist for AZ's course, Building a Career in Fire

Jadie Miller has almost two decades of experience as a firefighter. Working for three different departments, she has served as a volunteer and today, still serves as an active professional firefighter within Ontario Canada, while also being the CEO and Founder of PYROC. A company dedicated to changing the way we care for and optimize the performance of those that protect the rest. 

In 2018, Miller found herself standing on the edge, looking down at an empty shell of herself, recognizing the darkness found in what she didn't or frankly couldn't feel. Suffering from the unique challenges of firefighting that no rookie is ready for, not taught how to prepare for, nor given the tools to deal with. 

 In 2020, she teamed with Dr. Chris Frueh to investigate, develop, and co-author a framework to more accurately explain her injury. A framework proposed as 'Firefighter Syndrome.’ Born from Dr. Frueh and his team's incredible work with ‘Operator Syndrome,’ Firefighter Syndrome is specific to the challenges of firefighting, while operator syndrome remains specific to the challenges that military special operators within the Army, Navy, and Air Force face. 

So what, now what?!?

Firefighter syndrome is a collection of job-specific, interrelated medical, social, and psychological conditions. It involves pathophysiological injuries at the molecular and cellular level of every system in the body, which, due to the nature of firefighting, interact adversely with behavioral and social functioning. 

Operator Syndrome Text

https://pyroc.com/who-are-we

email Jadie: [email protected]

*****
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FRW20 at Fluid Nutrition

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