Self-Care as PPE: The Gear Nobody Hands You

Aug 19

Day One Gear

**The Most Overlooked Piece of PPE:**
Self-Care Survival Gear

Resilience Doesn’t Come in a Box

When you walk into a fire, a shooting, or a medical scene, you don’t hesitate to throw on your turnout coat, vest, or helmet. It’s automatic. But here’s the thing nobody told me when I started out: the most important piece of PPE doesn’t come issued from supply. It’s how you protect your head and your heart.

That’s what we mean at FRRN when we say self-care is PPE. It’s not a perk, it’s not a soft skill, and it sure as hell isn’t optional. It’s survival gear for the inside.

What’s Happening Right Now

• PPE for the Mind — We’re doubling down on the truth that resilience and wellness have to be treated like equipment, not afterthoughts.

• Taking the Mic — I’ve started stepping onto bigger stages — Fire Rescue International this summer, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police coming up in October. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that the message only matters if it’s shared loud and clear.

• Departments Stepping Up — Bigger Cities’ EMS are enrolling more than a thousand of their people with us. That’s proof of concept: this training can scale, it can fit budgets, and it doesn’t pull crews off the street.

• Better Tools, Better Language — We’ve built flyers, stats, and messaging that hit both sides: chiefs want to see ROI, firefighters and medics want something real. We’ve got both.

• Keeping It Real — On social, I’ll keep sharing what I know firsthand — the wins, the struggles, the lessons learned. This isn’t theory; it’s lived experience. That’s how culture shifts.

How We Serve

• Online Course — resilience training that’s self-paced, low-lift, and ready when you are.

• Workshops — in-person sessions for departments, regions, or states.

• Virtual Classes — live, interactive training anywhere in the country.

• Conversations & Panels — podcasts, webinars, or conferences where the message needs to be heard.

How You Can Plug In

• Leaders / Agencies: Enrolling your crews is simple — just name + email. Each member gets a year of access. The return is clear: less burnout, stronger readiness, better retention.

• Individuals: If you’ve taken the course, do me a favor — finish those surveys, leave a review. That feedback drives what we do next.

• Community: Share our posts. Tell someone about the program when you see them struggling. Nobody should have to carry this job alone.