Abstract
This research project is aimed to help identify the long-term health-related illnesses facing first responders today and provide information to their leadership on how they can assist their first responders through these events. First responders play a critical role in every community around the world in protecting the public during emergency events. They are often the first to respond to natural disasters, medical emergencies, house fires, and pandemics. A question that often goes unanswered is how these events affect the overall health and well-being of our first responders, both physically and mentally. Some of the specific health-related illnesses that will be discussed are cardiovascular health, sleep disturbances, cancer, obesity, and behavioral health. This research project will help recognize some of the challenges that first responders face daily, what resources are available today, and identify gaps that may exist in the current research.
