MnFIRE thanks Sarah Moe from Sleep Health Specialists for guest authoring this blog and sharing her expertise around this critical component of wellness. 

It’s National Sleep Awareness Week – a whole week dedicated to bringing awareness to the importance of sleep! Does this sound excessive to you? If you’re thinking “we all sleep every single night. What other awareness needs to be brought to it?”, you’re not alone. Yet given the fact that human beings (are SUPPOSED to) sleep eight hours each night, we collectively know very little about it. Truthfully, this is because we do not learn about our sleep from a young age the way we learn about the other aspects of health. With focus placed on gym class and the food pyramid, we are raised to believe that being healthy means eating right and working out. We’ve missed so much over the years.

Luckily, we seem to be catching up. This pandemic has placed the spotlight on health and well-being in a new way, and hopefully we won’t be going back. So, this is the perfect time to learn how our sleep co-exists with the mission of MnFIRE – providing Minnesota’s firefighters the tools they need to prioritize and protect their health – specifically related to cardiac, emotional trauma and cancer.

Sleep and cardiac
With all of the recent studies done around sleep and heart health, it is becoming increasingly clearer how important those nighttime zzz’s are. The average person is getting 1.2 hours of sleep less than we did 50 years ago, and it is causing significant cardiac issues. When we are sleeping, our heart rate and blood pressure are drastically reduced, giving our systems a much-needed break and chance to reset for the work of the following day. In fact, short sleepers, those who get less than six hours each night, are 48% more likely to die from coronary artery disease.

On top of that, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing at night, has been shown to have a direct correlation with cardiac stress. OSA is an extremely prevalent sleep disorder, and it is estimated that over 80 million Americans are suffering undiagnosed. Demographically, many first responders fall in this category so diagnosis and treatment are crucial to maintaining optimal heart health.

Sleep and emotional trauma
Trauma and mental well-being have a frustrating relationship with sleep. When we experience trauma, our minds do not have an easy time processing and moving on. The work of understanding its impact is grueling and not at all within our control. While some individuals can put things in a little brain box and never look back, most will find themselves immersed in reliving traumatic situations over and over in their mind – wondering why these things happened, if there was anything we could have done to change the outcome or how long until it doesn’t hurt as much? These thoughts are all-consuming and tend to prevent us from falling asleep. Unfortunately, getting a bad night of sleep leads to a hormonal imbalance the following day. The hormones that regulate mood, motivation and resilience are thrown out of balance and may lead to an anxiety-filled day. When we have those days, it makes it even harder to fall asleep that night. We’ve now entered the vicious cycle of poor sleep and mental well-being. We cannot have one without the other, and they are so impactful to each other.

The easiest way to break this chain is to focus on sleep. Doing what it takes to get the proper quantity and quality sleep will set you up with the neurological tools needed to tackle all that may come.

Sleep and cancer
In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified night shift work as a “probable carcinogen,” which is something likely to cause cancer. That is because people who work the night shift then have to attempt to sleep during the day. Unfortunately, that goes against most of our circadian rhythms, and we find that it is quite difficult to get restful consolidated sleep in the daytime hours. With reduced sleep time, our natural killer cells, or cancer fighting cells, reduce as well. On top of that, hormones like cortisol and melatonin that are shown to influence the rate of cancer growth are deregulated too. That means not getting sufficient sleep leaves us more vulnerable to many types of cancer.

While this information may seem frightening, it’s actually good news. The research and development of sleep medicine is giving us more information than we’ve ever had, and this information allows us to use all tools in order to stay as healthy, happy and productive as possible. If that sounds like the type of life you would like to live, taking your sleep seriously is a great way to ensure you will achieve that goal. The old airplane cliche is true: We have to put on our own oxygen masks before we can help others. And a great way to ensure we can be at our best to continue serving our community is by getting those zzz’s.

MnFIRE recently launched the MnStore – an online store where those interested in supporting our mission can buy MnFIRE-branded merchandise, like t-shirts, hats and sweatshirts. Support our mission of helping Minnesota firefighters prioritize and protect their health, and add some great looking pieces to your wardrobe in return! These also make great gifts for the firefighters in your life. Here are a few of our favorite items:

1) MnFIRE Torrent Waterproof Jacket – Our versatile, fully seam-sealed jacket offers outstanding waterproof protection to keep you dry whether you’re on the job or on the trail. Folds into a convenient carry pouch for easy, compact storage.

2) MnFIRE Hat – This stylish and classic trucker hat will protect your eyes, while also spreading awareness about MnFIRE.

3) MnFIRE Endeavor 1/4 Zip Pullover – With a subtle heather texture and moisture-wicking technology, this lightweight 1/4-zip will help you achieve all your performance endeavors.

4) MnFIRE Core Cotton Tee Shirt – Show your support wherever you go with a comfy cotton t-shirt sporting our MnFIRE branding.

Check out all the full line-up of MnFIRE apparel options at our MnStore. Thanks for supporting our mission!

In July 2021, the state legislature passed the most comprehensive firefighter well-being legislation in the nation. The bipartisan Hometown Heroes Assistance Program (HHAP) dedicates $4 million per year to ensure that every Minnesota firefighter will have access to the education, prevention and care needed to handle a cardiac, emotional trauma or cancer diagnosis.

We are so thankful to the bipartisan group of legislators and fire service leaders who took action to make this happen. Over the past few months, we have had the privilege of recognizing the legislators who were instrumental in passing the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program with our highest honor – commemorative bronze axes.

A token of our gratitude, these axes commemorate their leadership in the fight for firefighter health and wellness. The legislators awarded with, or soon to be awarded with, commemorative axes include:

• Senate HHAP Co-Author Senator Steve Cwodzinski (D – 48)
• Senator Paul Gazelka (R – 09)
• Senate HHAP Author Senator Jeff Howe (R – 13)
• Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller (R – 28)
• House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D – 36B)
• House Public Safety Chair Representative Carlos Mariani (D – 65B)
• House HHAP Author Representative Cheryl Youakim (D – 46B)

Thanks to the generosity of the Minnesota Legislature, 20,000 volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time firefighters across the state have an opportunity to deeply benefit from these new resources.

This major milestone for firefighter health combines three vital elements: an assistance program with expanded emotional trauma resources, an up-to-$20,000 critical illness policy, and ongoing health and wellness training. All active Minnesota firefighters – volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time – can access the MnFIRE Assistance Program, are automatically enrolled in the Critical Illness insurance policy and can receive training – all at no cost.

Minnesota firefighters can receive help for a crisis, find out more information or file a claim by calling 888-784-6634 or visiting mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/.

MnFIRE is proud to present the inaugural Firefighter Health Forum, a gathering of cardiac, cancer and mental health experts and fire service leaders to share the latest information, in-depth research and techniques related to firefighter health. This new event will create local and national opportunities for collaboration.

On the heels of the Minnesota legislature passing the most comprehensive firefighter well-being legislation in the nation, the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program, comes this first-ever educational forum specifically focused on protecting and supporting Minnesota firefighter health.

Join us in April!

This important and exclusive two-day symposium will take place April 22-23, 2022, at the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America. The forum will feature four distinct tracks for fire service leaders, medical providers, mental health providers and peer supporters.

Stay tuned for more details, including registration information, session topics and more. If you have any questions in the meantime, contact MnFIRE’s Director of Program Delivery DeeDee Jankovich at djankovich@mnfireinitiative.com or call 888-784-6634.

It’s a new year, and with it, there are some exciting new changes to announce for our MnFIRE board. The MnFIRE board is comprised of individuals who are passionate about firefighter health and have the fire service experience to match. We’re so grateful that they invest their time, energy and talents into driving our mission forward!

First, we’d like to thank Mark Rosenblum for his five years serving on the MnFIRE board. Mark brought his deep experience serving on the Golden Valley Fire Department and as president of the Minnesota State Fire Department Association (MSFDA) to his role with MnFIRE. We appreciate all he does in retirement to support firefighters in Minnesota, and are grateful he chose to spend half a decade helping further our cause.

We’d also like to welcome Scott Vadnais, Dave Yurczyk and Amber Lage to the board in 2022! We’re looking forward to benefitting from their unique experiences and collaborating to make 2022 the best year for firefighter health and wellness yet. Learn more about them and their service below:

Amber Lage
Amber Lage is the Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services for the Minneapolis Fire Department, where she has proudly served for over 22 years. Throughout her career, she has held the ranks of firefighter, fire motor operator, captain, staff captain and deputy chief. She is a current board member for the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board where she represents professional firefighters. Though Amber’s specialty is in EMS, she has a genuine dedication to keeping firefighters safe and healthy.

Scott Vadnais
Scott Vadnais has been in the fire service for 32 years. He spent 12 years at the White Bear Lake Fire Department where he served as a paid-on-call paramedic/lieutenant. He was also a paramedic/dispatcher for Healthspan EMS (Allina). He has served with the City of Edina Fire Department since 1997 and is currently a lieutenant. Scott has been the union president of Edina Local 1275 since 2008 and was recently elected president of the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters. He’s also a founding member of Minnesota Task Force 1, the state structural collapse rescue team. Finally, he serves as a service representative for the International Association of Fire Fighters, covering all of Minnesota since 2013.

Dave Yurczyk
Dave Yurczyk served more than 20 years as a volunteer firefighter for Holdingford Fire & Rescue, retiring in 2020. During his time, he was a relief association trustee and training officer. Dave has also been with the MSFDA for a decade, and currently serves as president. He served on the Minnesota Fire Service Certification Board from 2011-2017 and is also a director to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), which represents Minnesota’s nearly 20,000 volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters.

Welcome, and thank you for your service!

As people in the fire service and their families know all too well, firefighters are exposed to unimaginable scenes of pain and suffering on the job. That traumatic stress can pile up over time, so much so that approximately half of all firefighters think about wanting to die, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Although many of our brothers and sisters need help, there is a deep-rooted belief that others outside of the fire service just don’t get it. Getting help from someone who has experienced the same struggles can make all the difference, and that’s where MnFIRE peer supporters come in.

MnFIRE peer supporters are here to provide confidential support to those experiencing personal, emotional or work-related problems, while acting as a bridge to outside professional services. Our Peer Support Program allows firefighters to talk with a peer supporter who has been in their shoes, and understands the emotional challenges unique to firefighting.

“I love helping other firefighters — helping them put a name to an invisible demon, especially when it comes to trauma and PTSD,” said one peer supporter. “The follow-up texts that I receive from the ones who say, ‘You saved my life,’ make me realize there was a reason I went through what I went through. I now know my work matters.”

Connect with a Peer Supporter

If you’re in crisis or need help, please call our 24-hour hotline: 888-784-6634. This confidential, free service is available for all active volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time Minnesota firefighters. Phone lines are answered 24/7 and provide confidential support, guidance and mental health resources.

Become a Peer Supporter

MnFIRE is currently building an extensive peer supporter network to help all members of the fire family – and we want you to join us in this important work! We’re currently recruiting:

• Chief/command staff peers
• Active/retired peers
• Full-time/paid-on-call/volunteer peers
• Spouse/family peers

To become a peer supporter, you will need to attend a Peer Support training class. Our next training will take place March 12-13, 2022. Mental health professionals and senior peer supporters will give you the tools to help those in need and walk with them as they find their way back to living their best life.

Want to know more? See our Peer Support frequently asked questions. Register for the upcoming training here.

MnFIRE acts as a crisis intervention peer support program. When someone calls in need of someone to talk to when working through a tough time, the Peer Support team connects them with a peer. As a peer supporter, you will share your experiences, recommendations or tools that have worked for you to get through your own challenges. Professional resources are also available if requested through the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program.

By providing emotional support outside of the traditional medical system, peer support directly reduces the culture of silence in the fire service that has all too often resulted in worsening mental health and suicide. Please consider joining our group of peer supporters – it’s a great way to give back and support your fellow firefighters!

By George Esbensen, MnFIRE Board President

In a landmark decision, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has ruled that Maple Grove and St. Paul Fire Captain Michael Paidar died in the line of duty. Captain Paidar died from a rare and aggressive form of cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, on August 26, 2020, at age 53.

The decision by Commissioner John Harrington last week marks a historical first for the Minnesota Fire Service: A Minnesota Public Safety Officer Death Benefit has never before been awarded to a person who died from cancer.

In a letter to Captain Paidar’s family, Commissioner Harrington cited a number of considerations leading to the decision, including medical studies linking the number of a firefighter’s fire hours to leukemia mortality, his age and his primary physician’s statement.

“Having been in law enforcement for nearly 40 years, I understand the dangers facing public safety officers each day,” Commissioner Harrington wrote. “And it appears that in your husband’s case, the danger was not solely an immediate one. As such, I believe his death falls within the intended definition of ‘killed in the line of duty’ recognized by this state and will be certified as such.

All of us at MnFIRE continue to reflect on the loss of Captain Paidar and honor his years of dedicated public service. Please join us in expressing our gratitude to everyone who worked on behalf of Captain Paidar’s wife and children, particularly IAFF Local 21 and the Minnesota Professional Firefighters. This is an incredible step forward for Captain Paidar’s family and for all firefighters struggling with fire service-driven cancers.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in U.S. firefighters today, and according to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 68% of all firefighters will develop some form of cancer in their lifetimes. Although respiratory and GI cancers are most commonly associated with firefighting, those in the fire service are at a greater risk of all cancers compared to the general population.

That’s why Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an important time to advocate for those firefighters – both men and women – in their fight against breast cancer.

Due to historically smaller sample sizes, there has been limited evidence-based research regarding occupational cancer among women in the fire service. San Francisco has more female firefighters than any other city in the country, and an increasing number of them are being diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately 16% of the department’s firefighters are women. Of that number, 15% of female firefighters between 40 and 50 years old have been diagnosed with breast cancer, which is six times the national average.

More studies are now being done to determine the elevated health risks of firefighting on breast cancer. In 2020, the Women Firefighters Biomonitoring Collaborative collected biospecimens and interview data from 80 women firefighters and 80 women office workers from San Francisco, revealing that firefighters may be at an increased risk for developing breast cancer due to exposure to higher levels of certain toxic PFAS chemicals.

Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals that have been produced since the 1950s. PFAS have been nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down, so they accumulate over time. As people get exposed to PFAS from different sources over time, the level of PFAS in their bodies may increase to the point where they suffer from adverse health effects.

Of course, personal risk factors such as age and family history also can increase someone’s risk for cancer. Beyond exposure to toxic chemicals, the lifestyle of a firefighter can also increase cancer risk. Non-exposure risk factors for cancer in firefighters include:

• Stress
• Body composition
• Cardiorespiratory fitness
• Sleep/shiftwork
• Diet

Firefighters are exposed to known carcinogens and hundreds of other chemicals from the station to the site of a fire – ranging from exhaust to firefighting foams, and even their own protective gear. The most common routes of occupational exposure to carcinogens include:

• Skin absorption
• Inhalation
• Ingestion (less likely)

Cancer is one of the most dangerous threats to firefighter health and safety today, and it is critical that more Minnesota firefighters become aware of their higher risks for cancer – including breast cancer – as well as prevention strategies. Broader research on occupational health risks also needs to be done to protect the health of women and other minorities who are in the fire service.

Sign your department up today for our cancer deep-dive training – we’ll educate firefighters on activities that put them at higher risk for developing cancer, proper PPE strategies for mitigating cancer risks and what types of screenings can be done to catch cancer early. Together, we can reduce future cancer diagnoses and protect firefighters from breast cancer and all of these terrible diseases.

On Saturday, Doug Foote was joined by firefighters from around the Twin Cities as they completed the final mile of Miles for MnFIRE together and descended upon the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the State Capitol Grounds. It marked the powerful end of a truly momentous journey for Minnesota firefighter health.

From Marietta to Montevideo to Saint Paul, and all the communities in between, Doug’s 200-mile trek served to unite, educate and rally support around the top three health issues facing firefighters in our state: cardiac, emotional trauma and cancer. In addition to sharing MnFIRE’s mission with folks along the journey, Miles for MnFIRE also received widespread media attention, reaching an audience of over 5 million people through print, radio and television media outlets. We also managed to raise $20,000 to support MnFIRE’s mission of supporting Minnesota firefighters and they people who care about them.

“This walk has been an incredible and inspirational journey on so many levels,” says Doug. “What is abundantly clear is that we have firefighters who are hurting out there from the myriad traumatic experiences they have encountered. Their dedication is nothing short of heroic, but it drives home the point of how important the MnFIRE mission is, especially related to mental health.”

In the wake of this milestone journey, we’d simply like to say thank you. Thank you to the many firefighters who donned their turnout gear and took brave steps together with us along the way; thank you to the long list of fire departments who donated and voiced their support for the cause; thank you to the compassionate corporations who pledged their support for our hometown heroes; and thank you, Doug Foote, for your tireless efforts to support our organization.

Doug gives special thanks to his sons and wife Denise for being there throughout the journey, as well as to Chiefs Johnson, White, and the entire Chanhassen Fire Dept. “Words cannot possibly express my gratitude for all the departments, firefighters, and members of the community who showed up and dedicated their time to support the Miles for MnFIRE walk and MnFIRE’s mission,” he says. “I am indebted to those who ensured my safety along the route. I am so thankful to the MnFIRE team for their support and commitment throughout this journey, but even more so related to all they are doing for my fire department brothers and sisters. They have a mighty mission and are leading purpose-driven lives indeed!”

If you haven’t made a donation and would still like to there’s still a little time left. Check out our pledge page HERE.

MnFIRE’s newest fundraiser is a walk across Minnesota to raise awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. Miles for MnFIRE kicked off on Sept. 12 near Marietta, on the westernmost edge of the state, and is making its way through numerous Minnesota communities, including Lac Qui Parle, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod, Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey counties. The walk ends Sept. 18 at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul.

The final leg of Miles for MnFIRE is underway! Doug Foote started this morning in Hopkins, and is making his way through St. Louis Park and Minneapolis before ending his 200-mile journey in St. Paul.

Doug started Day Six yesterday in Waconia, and walked through Victoria, Chanhassen, Excelsior, Shorewood and Minnetonka before ending the day in Hopkins, where he was just 18 miles from the finish line. Throughout his walk, Doug has been joined by other firefighters, their families and community members who have seen firsthand the alarming rate of heart attacks, suicide and cancer affecting Minnesota’s hometown heroes.

Miles for MnFIRE will come to an end this afternoon at approximately 2:30 p.m. As Doug approaches the final mile of his journey, dozens of firefighters from across Minnesota are expected to don their turnout gear and walk with him to the end site at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial site on the State Capitol grounds.

If you’d like to join Doug, and many others, on his last mile onto the Capitol grounds, you can find more details, including a map of Saturday’s route, HERE.

Doug’s long trek from Marietta to St. Paul has so far raised more than $13,000 for MnFIRE to continue its mission of supporting Minnesota firefighter health. There’s still time to make a donation HERE.