FIREPROOF Wellness is set to launch FIREPROOF Method, a program that offers firefighters multitiered support with research-based education, 1:1 health coaching, and telemedicine visits, collectively aimed at offsetting the risks encountered with a fire service career.
Bridging the Gaps in Firefighter Health
Firefighters are facing a national health crisis, according to a release from FIREPROOF Wellness. They live shorter lives, dying from preventable illnesses at a greater rate than the general population. Recent studies reveal that firefighters experience 37% reduction in testosterone in their first year of service alone 1, have a 14% increased risk of death due to cancer, 2 and 45% of all on-duty deaths are due to cardiovascular disease 3.
Shockingly, even with a recent emphasis in mental health support, firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line-of-duty 4.
Unfortunately, many healthcare providers are under informed about these increased risks that firefighters face. This means missed opportunities to take a proactive, informed approach to firefighter health.
Offsetting the Unavoidable Risks of the Job
Firefighters have unique occupational factors which increase their risk of a variety of conditions.
They regularly encounter:
- Sleep deprivation
- Smoke inhalation/exposure
- Traumatic exposures
- Carcinogen exposures
- Occupational stress
All of which contribute to the development of:
- Insulin resistance and diabetes
- Low testosterone
- PTSD
- Depression and anxiety
- Cardiovascular disease
- Pulmonary disease
- Sleep disorders
- Cancer
A Multi-Tiered Approach
FIREPROOF Method guides participants through firefighter-specific health research in action, approached with the understanding of the often unavoidable risks firefighters have and the difficulty in incorporating much of the ‘standard’ health advice due to their unique work conditions. It offers ways to support these areas of health within the context of these real limitations.
Access to 1:1 health coaching sessions give the clients support for their application of the strategies taught in the education modules, and benefits of personalized nutrition and supplement strategies.
Telemedicine sessions are included with licensed medical providers, and are geared towards identifying individual risk factors through detailed biomarker analysis, tracking improvement in lab values through the program, and providing a non-controlled substance solution for supporting healthy testosterone levels in male firefighters, our ‘Testosterone Optimization Program’ (TOP). The addition of TOP is so successful that our patients are experiencing from over 300% increases in their testosterone levels, all without the use of testosterone replacement.
Doctor Developed, Field Tested
The results seen by FIREPROOF Method participants speak to the incredible risk-reduction opportunity this program provides. The education and interventions included have been curated over years of success treating firefighters, military, and Navy Seals in private medical practice, and are backed by cutting-edge research.
Results include:
- Over 300% increase in male testosterone levels
- Reduction in inflammatory markers
- Reduction in fasting blood sugar and HbA1c
- Improvement in sleep quality
- Improvement in mood
- Increase in daytime energy and focus
- Improved family relationships
Enrollment for FIREPROOF Method is now open for California residents at http://www.FIREPROOFWellness.com.
References
- Roy M, Kirschbaum C and Steptoe A. Intraindividual Variation in Recent Stress Exposure as a Moderator of Cortisol and Testosterone Levels. Ann Behav Med 2003, 26(3): 194–200.”
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).”Firefighters and Cancer.” NFPA, https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/emergency-response/firefighters-and-cancer. Accessed 19 April 2024.
- Soteriades ES, Smith DL, Tsismenakis AJ, Baur DM, Kales SN. Cardiovascular disease in US firefighters: a systematic review. Cardiol Rev. 2011 Jul-Aug;19(4):202-15.
- Shaul Bar Nissim PhD, Hanna. “The Ruderman White Paper Update on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders.” Ruderman Family Foundation, https://rudermanfoundation.org/white_papers/the-ruderman-white-paper-update-on-mental-health-and-suicide-of-first-responders/. Accessed 19 April 2024.
