FDNY 1-Day Health & Wellness Seminar - 8.11.2026

Size Up Your Workouts: Functional Training for Firefighter Performance & Longevity | Lt. Aaron Zamzow

Firefighters and first responders are industrial athletes who must size up our fitness routines just as we would an incident scene—ensuring we choose the right "attack" to minimize injuries and optimize performance. This dynamic 2-hour seminar breaks down the unique physical demands and movement patterns of the modern fireground while evaluating popular fitness trends to see if they truly measure up. Attendees will dive into the six essential components of an effective fire-rescue workout program, learning how to build engaging, functional workouts using simple firehouse equipment. Through practical examples and shift-friendly programming, participants will leave with plug-and-play strategies to reduce injuries, boost performance, and extend their careers.

Reproductive Health in the Fire Service: What Every Firefighter Should Know | Brittany Hollerbach

Firefighters face unique occupational exposures and job demands that can affect reproductive and hormonal health throughout their careers. This session will provide an evidence-informed overview of current research on reproductive health in both women and men, including fertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, birth outcomes, hormonal health, and the potential impacts of chemical exposures, heat, stress, sleep disruption, and shift work. Participants will also learn practical strategies to reduce risk, support informed decision-making, and foster a workplace culture that promotes the health and well-being of all firefighters across every stage of life.

Firefighter Look into Research | John Gulotta

Understanding how firefighters are exposed to hazardous contaminants is critical because it helps the fire srvice recognize risks and adopt safer practices that reduce occupational illness and disease. To build confidence in the science, research must be evidence-based, statistically significant, peer-reviewed, and capable of driving meaningful change. However, research only has value if the fire service understands it. When firefighters understand the evidence, they are more likely to trust the findings, and that trust leads to changes in policies, procedures, and daily habits that reduce exposure and improve long-term health and safety.

In the Mouth of the Dragon: Fire Dynamics and the Cancer Risk on Today’s Fireground | Chief Frank Leeb

The modern fire environment has changed and so has the risk to firefighters. Today’s fires, driven by synthetic materials, burn faster and are more toxic than ever before. As a result, occupational cancer has emerged as one of the greatest threats to the fire service. Based on the upcoming second edition of “In the Mouth of the Dragon” (Fire Engineering, 2026), Chief Leeb co-author of the book will connect modern fire dynamics with the growing incidence of occupational cancer. The program will examine key fire dynamics concepts essential for optimal fireground performance and the relationship between occupational cancer and the modern fire environment. It will further explore how today’s fire conditions increase exposure and how those exposures directly impact firefighter health and long-term risk. This session will provide practical, operationally relevant strategies to reduce risk without sacrificing aggressive fireground operations. Participants will develop a clearer understanding of the relationship between modern fire behavior, toxic smoke, and occupational illness and how informed tactics, disciplined decision-making, and fireground awareness can meaningfully reduce risk.