A Personal Decision on the Fireline - Are You Willing to Roll the Dice? By Dr. Jennifer Symonds Fire and Aviation Management Medical Officer U.S. Forest Service The decision on whether or not to get your COVID-19 vaccine is a personal one; we must all make our own choice. Clearly, we all have different motivators … Continue reading To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?
Health/Medical
Masks or No Masks?
Two firefighters wearing their masks during an assignment in 2020. By Dr. Jennifer Symonds Fire and Aviation Management Medical Officer U.S. Forest Service It’s 2021. You are vaccinated. Should you still wear a mask on assignments? How about those of you who have not been vaccinated. What are the rules on wearing masks for the … Continue reading Masks or No Masks?
What Does “Module as One” Mean in 2021?
Vaccines have been administered, infection rates are down, fire activity is picking up. Are we sticking with the practices that were established last year?
It’s Not Just You: Burnout and Stress in the Practitioner Community
Burnout sneaks up on a lot of us in the wildfire profession, whether we are digging line, holding hoses or fostering resilience actions with our conversations and our keyboards.
CAUTION – The Pack Test Involves Risk
These incidents remind us that this annual endeavor may in fact be a walk in the park -- but that does not mean it is free from danger.
Hello Darkness . . .
Transparency, vulnerability, honesty, bluntness . . . Thom gives it to us straight about what resilience actually looks like.
Where Do We Go From Here?
What do we want to take with us moving forward and what should we leave behind?
The SOG Fire Rock Strike: Lucky? Or Prepared?
SOG Fire Rock Strike “Being lucky is often stated when something attributed to a miracle happens, but preparation is what really creates the outcome.”
COVID Guilt is a Real Thing
I’m sharing this story in case you get the same call I did: “your coronavirus test came back positive.” COVID guilt is a real thing. But you should think twice before blaming yourself.
2020 Mid-Year Analysis
Here are some numbers and a few lessons from incidents that occurred during the first half of 2020 (January - June).