Hydration Matters infographic: dehydration warning signs, a urine color chart and tips for hydrating before, during and after a call

    1. Smith DL, et al. (2012). Firefighter hydration: Physiological responses and hydration behaviors during training. J Strength Cond Res, 26(9): 2443–2451.

    2. Barr D, et al. (2010). Thermal strain during firefighting: Impact of protective clothing and hydration. Ergonomics, 53(7): 799–806.

    3. Casa DJ, et al. (2015). National Athletic Trainers’ Association position statement: Exertional heat illnesses. J Athl Train, 50(9): 986–1000.

    4. Rhea MR, et al. (2004). Hydration status affects muscle performance. J Strength Cond Res, 18(2): 272–275.

    5. Armstrong LE, et al. (2007). Exertional rhabdomyolysis: Risk factors, diagnosis, and management. J Athl Train, 42(1): 79–87.

This Is Your Body infographic showing how firefighting affects the heart and other organs

    1. Smith DL, et al. (2001). Effect of live-fire training drills on firefighters’ physiological responses. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 43(3):244–249.

    2. Horn GP, et al. (2013). Physiological responses to simulated fire suppression in relation to metabolic demand. Ergonomics, 56(9): 1465–1473.

    3. Soteriades ES, et al. (2011). Cardiovascular disease in US firefighters: A systematic review. Cardiology in Review, 19(4):202–215.

    4. Barr D, et al. (2010). The thermal strain experienced during firefighting activity. Ergonomics, 53(7): 799–806.

    5. Gledhill N, Jamnik VK. (1992). Characterization of the physical demands of firefighting. Canadian Journal of Sport Sciences, 17(3):207–213.

Alcohol and the Fire Service infographic on standard drink sizes, effects on the body and risks for firefighters

    1. Dr. Walker S. Carlos Poston, M.P.H.

      Dr. Poston’s research focuses primarily in the areas of obesity, tobacco control, and cardiovascular disease prevention with an emphasis on minority populations and military and first-responder health. He has been a principal investigator or co-investigator on grants from the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Legacy Foundation, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Digestive Disorders and Kidney Diseases, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Department of Defense US Army Medical Research and Material Command, and the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA. He also has been the recipient of a Minority Scientist Development award from AHA.

    2. Dr. Sara Jahnke

      Dr. Jahnke has over a decade of research experience on firefighter health, she has been the Principal Investigator on ten national studies as well as dozens of studies as a co-investigator. Her work has focused on a range of health concerns including the health of women firefighters, behavioral health, risk of injury, cancer, cardiovascular risk factors, and substance use with funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant R&D Program, the National Institutes of Health and other foundations. She has more than 100 publications in peer-reviewed medical literature.

    3. Dr. Christopher K. Haddock

      His professional background also includes training in data science and strength and conditioning. Dr. Haddock is an Accredited Professional Statistician (PStat®) with the American Statistical Association, a Fellow with The Obesity Society, and a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CPT®). He has served as the Principal, Co-Investigator, or Biostatistician on a large number of National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and American Cancer Society grants as well as foundation and private industry-sponsored grants and contracts. His current research is diverse, ranging from evaluating detection methods for toxic exposures among firefighters, PTSD treatment for military personnel, best methods to promote fitness and health among military and first response personnel, tobacco control research, and the impact of the opioid epidemic on veterans. Dr. Haddock has published over 200 scientific articles, most focused on first responder, military, and veteran’s issues.

    4. Dr. Nattinee Jitnarin

      Dr. Jitnarin’s research primarily focuses on health behavior (e.g., diet, exercise) and addictive behavior research, particularly tobacco use. She has a strong background in study coordination and experience in health outcomes research, specifically in statistics, epidemiology, and food and nutrition, as well as health-related behaviors. She has also been involved in the conduct and analysis of a number of large studies including cohort/observational studies and randomized controlled trials. Dr. Jitnarin currently serves as the Principal Investigator of the American Cancer Society-funded study focusing on developing and evaluating an occupationally-tailored smokeless tobacco cessation program in the U.S. Fire Service.

    5. Dr. Christopher M. Kaipust, M.P.H.

      Dr. Kaipust received his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Texas School of Public Health (UTSPH). He then completed his Ph.D. in Epidemiology, and was a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Doctoral Occupational Epidemiology Trainee at the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at UTSPH. Dr Kaipust serves as an Epidemiologist/Biostatistician in the Research Methodology and Data Analytics core at NDRI-USA, and in that role has been involved in the design, conduct, and analysis of several large studies on first responder, law enforcement, and military health and safety. His research focuses on Total Worker Health and health disparities in the occupational setting.

    6. Dr. Brittany Hollerbach

      Dr. Hollerbach received her Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Kansas State University and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Skidmore College under the direction of Dr. Denise Smith where she focused on cardiovascular disease in the fire service. Dr. Hollerbach has extensive experience working with the fire service on a number of federally funded firefighter studies examining behavioral health issues in the fire service including obesity, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, substance use, and mental health. She recently received FEMA funding as the Principal Investigator (PI) on a project examining firefighter perceptions of protective strategies used to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Hollerbach has an interest in firefighter health in general and translation and dissemination of firefighter health research specifically, given her background as a former firefighter. She also has experience teaching at the fire academy and is well-connected to the fire service community in Kansas City.

    7. Raul Caetano, M.D., Ph.D.

      Dr. Caetano is a Senior Research Scientist at the Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, California. He is also Professor of Epidemiology, Emeritus at the University of Texas School of Public Health. Dr. Caetano served as the Dean of the Southwestern School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center from 2006 to 2014, and as the Regional Dean and Professor of Epidemiology, Dallas Regional Campus, University of Texas School of Public Health from 1998 to 2014. Dr. Caetano's research has focused on alcohol problems among U.S. ethnic minorities, particularly Hispanic populations. He has conducted both population surveys and clinical studies of alcohol use and alcohol problems among White, Black, and Hispanic populations. In addition, his work also has focused on psychiatric diagnosis and classification, and the associations between alcohol use and intimate partner violence.

    8. Dr. Susie Day,

      is a Professor of Epidemiology at University of Texas' School of Public Heath in Houston

      Her training is in nutritional and occupational epidemiology.

      She's been doing research with her colleagues about firefighters for the last 9 years with funding from FEMA and NIH.

    9. Jeff Dill, Founder, CEO & Instructor - Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance

      Jeff is a twenty-six year veteran of the fire service, with volunteer and career experience. In addition, he has a Master's Degree in Community Counseling. He was the founder of Counseling Services for Fire Fighters in 2009 and Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance in 2010. He travels across the United States and Canada providing educational workshops to firefighters on behavioral health issues such as addictions, depression, PTSD, relationships and suicide awareness. Jeff also educates counselors across the United States on how to work with the fire service and understanding the fire service culture.

    10. Jeanne Barnhill, Senior Graphic Designer -

      NDRI-USA, Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research (CFREHR) & The Science Alliance

      Jeanne is a Senior Graphic Design Specialist with 25+ years of successful experience in the complete design process.

      She specializes in taking ideas from conceptualization to finished products.

      Her previous design/marketing clients include: AIDS Service Foundation, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Bacardi-USA, AVION tequila, WHP Trainingtowers, Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition - Union Station, Kansas City, Custom Color Corporation.