If you're new here, we're the First Responders Support Training (FRST) Center, and we're dedicated to promoting health and wellness for first responders statewide. This month, we're excited to feature our special Collaborator Spotlight, announce our upcoming 2027 Spring Wellness Symposium, invite you to participate in an important firefighter safety survey, and share practical nutrition and fitness strategies. Thank you for joining us this month -- we are excited to have you here!
Looking Back and Looking Forward
This past spring, the FRST Center hosted its first Firefighter Wellness Summit, bringing together first responders and wellness professionals from across the region for a day focused on supporting firefighter health and well-being. Attendees explored practical strategies to support their physical and mental wellness through presentations, discussions, and hands-on learning. The summit also provided an opportunity to connect with others who share a commitment to supporting the first responder community.
The Firefighter Wellness Summit was led by Dr. Allison Barry, whose vision brought together experts with a variety of areas of expertise to support first responder wellness. Seth Daughters, MS, CSCS, led the strength sessions and shared practical strategies to improve performance and reduce injury risk. Dr. Dakota Witzel and Audra Janke, MS, LPC-MH, led discussions on mental health and discussed how both on-duty and off-duty stressors can affect overall well-being. Megan Northrup, RD, LN, led the nutrition section and shared practical ways to fuel recovery and support long-term health. Together, these sessions reinforced the importance of caring for every aspect of first responder wellness.
Planning is already underway for our 2027 Spring Wellness Symposium, and we're looking forward to bringing together even more first responders, collaborators, and wellness experts. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Zeke McKinney will join us as a featured speaker. He will be joined by returning presenter Audra Janke and Dr. Nate Dicks, an expert in fitness assessments. Together, they will provide attendees with even more opportunities to learn from leaders in first responder wellness.
Photos from the 2026 Firefighter Wellness Summit
As planning continues for the 2027 Spring Wellness Symposium, we'd love to hear from you. If there are topics or ideas you'd like us to consider, please reach out to Dr. Allison Barry at allison.barry@sdstate.edu. We appreciate your input and look forward to creating another meaningful event for our first responder community!
Collaborator Spotlight: Dr. Zeke McKinney
Dr. Zeke McKinney has dedicated much of his career to helping people live healthier lives. As an occupational medicine physician, Dr. McKinney cares for patients throughout the Minneapolis area. His passion for firefighter health has also led him to pursue research that improves the health and safety of firefighters. His special interest in environmental toxicology has led him to study the harmful exposures firefighters encounter on the job and strategies that can help reduce their long-term health risks. Although his credentials are certainly impressive, it is his desire to improve the lives of others that truly defines his work.
One of the biggest takeaways from Dr. McKinney's perspective was the importance of mental health. He believes caring for mental health should be viewed with the same importance as caring for physical health. Dr. McKinney emphasized that mental health and post-traumatic stress deserve greater attention, explaining that when firefighters are not mentally well, the effects often extend far beyond the fire station. Chronic stress and unresolved trauma can make it difficult to be the best version of themselves both on and off the job. When asked what one piece of wellness advice he would give every firefighter, his answer was simple: "See a therapist at least once a month, even when you're feeling good." He explained that building a relationship with a therapist before a crisis occurs can make it easier to seek support when it is needed most.
Along with advocating for mental health, Dr. McKinney continues to explore ways to protect firefighters from the long-term health risks they face throughout their careers. One area of his current research explores whether sauna use following fire responses may help the body remove some of the harmful toxins firefighters are exposed to through sweating. The hope is that this could reduce the long-term buildup of carcinogens within the body that can result from repeated fireground exposures. While this research is still ongoing, it reflects Dr. McKinney's interest in identifying evidence-based ways to help reduce the long-term health risks firefighters face. His work continues to uncover new strategies that could make a meaningful difference for firefighters.
Looking toward the future, Dr. McKinney is encouraged by the progress being made within the fire service. Conversations about firefighter health and wellness are becoming more common. Departments are also placing greater emphasis on practices such as properly cleaning firefighters' protective gear after fire responses to help reduce repeated exposure to harmful carcinogens.
He is also excited by the growing collaboration among researchers and organizations across the Midwest. Firefighter health research is still a relatively new and specialized field. By working together, researchers can share ideas, build stronger studies, and continue making meaningful strides to improve firefighter health and safety.
At the end of the day, Dr. McKinney's goal is simple. He wants to help firefighters live healthier, happier lives. Through his work, he hopes firefighters can spend more time with the people they love and continue doing the work they are passionate about.
Firefighter Safety Survey
Your perspective matters. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is inviting firefighters to participate in a brief survey on line-of-duty deaths. The information gathered will help researchers better understand these incidents and identify opportunities to continue improving firefighter safety. If you'd like to participate, you can find the survey using the link below.
"For firefighters, maintaining a high level of fitness is one of the best ways to stay safe and perform effectively while on duty. Firefighting places tremendous demands on the heart, lungs, and muscles, requiring the ability to work hard while wearing heavy gear, carrying equipment, climbing stairs, and operating in extreme conditions. Regular cardiovascular exercise is essential for building the endurance needed to sustain these efforts and recover quickly between tasks. At the same time, resistance training provides the strength and durability to handle the physical demands of the job while reducing the risk of injury. Together, these forms of exercise improve overall health, increase confidence in emergency situations, and help firefighters remain capable throughout their careers and into older age.
The good news is that building strength doesn't require a fully equipped gym. Firefighters can make significant progress with a few dumbbells, resistance bands, sandbags, or even bodyweight exercises. Start with two or three full-body workouts each week, focusing on movements like squats, push-ups, rows, overhead presses, lunges, and loaded carries. Combine these sessions with regular walking, jogging, cycling, or interval training to improve cardiovascular fitness. A consistent program built around both endurance and strength will create a solid foundation for healthy aging, decrease the likelihood of injury, ensuring you're physically prepared when the pager goes off.
If you are interested in this method of training, you can find the FRST Center’s “Training Template” in previous newsletters. These newsletters can be found here: Past Newsletters. They are located at the bottom of the webpage. You may also email FRST Center Strength Coach Seth Daughters, at seth.daughters@sdstate.edu, for more information! Have a great day!" - Seth Daughters, MS, CSCS
Recover to Respond
Recovery doesn't end when the call is over. The choices you make afterward can help your body recover, rebuild, and prepare for the next response. This month, our nutrition team is sharing a few simple tips to help you fuel your recovery and stay ready for whatever comes next!
The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer (NFRC) is leading the way for improvements in understanding the underlying mechanisms and creating ways to reduce incidence of cancer. The NFRC can only do this with your help. During the registration process, you will be asked about your fire history and exposures. The upper Midwest has some of the lowest participation rates for the registry, but I think we can change that! If you have not yet registered, there is still time to get involved and make a difference. Below you will find even more reasons to register.
By joining the NFRC, you can:
• Help protect your brothers and sisters in the fire service from developing cancer • Lessen the impact of cancer on firefighters' families and friends • Pave the way for new health and safety measures for future firefighters • Improve understanding of cancer risk among firefighters historically underrepresented in research
Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or if there are ways the FRST Center can help your department.
Don’t miss out—explore the FRST Center website today for previous newsletters, updates, expert tips, and resources designed to keep you strong, healthy, and ready for the job. Everything you need, all in one place.
If you or someone you know wants to be added to stay up-to-date with the latest news scan the QR code or click on this web address, Redcap Listserv, and enter this code: 4EW883FJL.
Stay Tuned For Our Next Newsletter!
SDState School of Health and Human Sciences, 1060 Campanile Ave., Box 2275A, Brookings, SD 57007
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