Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resource Hub
(Last updated September 24, 2021)
General Info
What Firefighters and EMS Providers Need to Know about COVID-19
Developers: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Description: A summary of COVID-19 information for emergency responders.
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Coronavirus COVID-19: Information and Tools for Fire Chiefs
Developers: International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Description: The IAFC webpage provides information and tools on COVID-19 for fire/EMS agencies (personnel impact tracking tool, surveillance resources, overviews, PPE selection and infection control, maintaining operations).
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IAFF Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Developers: International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
Description: A division of IAFF website which provides resources, infographics, and updates on COVID-19 (tracking survey, health information, preparation and PPE).
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COVID-19 Resource Page for Chief Officers
Developers: Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
Description: The CAFC webpage provides resources on COVID-19 to fire chief officers (log-in required). Chiefs who do not have CAFC membership can request temporary and complementary access to the COVID-19 resources.
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Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Firefighters
Developers: Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)
Description: A set of resources, tips, and best practices to help protect firefighters during the pandemic.
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COVID-19 Resources for Ontario Fire Fighters
Developers: Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association
Description: This websites provides resources (e.g., government action, best practices, labour/management) for Ontario fire fighters.
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COVID-19 Information and Resources for Emergency Responders
Developers: National Volunteer Fire Council
Description: This website provides COVID-19 links and resources for volunteer emergency responders.
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NFPA Responds to Coronavirus
Developers: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Description: The NFPA website provides resources on the codes and standards for responding to the coronavirus (emergency planning, responder safety in paramedics video and podcast).
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Learning and Policy Centre
Developers: Lexipol
Description: This website provides free COVID-19 policies, courses, and training tools for emergency services agencies. Note: registration required.
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COVID-19
Developers: International Public Safety Association
Description: This website provides info on COVID-19 fatalities, mental health, and continuity of operations.
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FAQs for Wildland Firefighters
Developers: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Description: COVID-19 resources for wildland firefighters.
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COVID-19 Prevention and Management During Wildland Fire Operation
Developers: National Wildfire Coordinating Group
Description: COVID-19 information for wildland fire personnel.
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Wildland firefighter exposure to smoke and COVID-19: A new risk on the fire line – NEW
Authors: Navarro KM, Clark KA, Hardt DJ, Reid CE, Lahm PW, Domitrovich JW, Butler CR, Balmes JR.
Published: December 11, 2020
Description: A review of how wildland fire smoke may influence the risk of COVID-19 infection and severity of the illness.
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Infectious Agents Exposure Reduction Training for First Responders
Developers: Western Region Public Health Training Center
Published: March 21, 2020
Description: A 10-minute video on how to mitigate exposures to coronavirus and other infectious agents.
Vaccines
Best Practices for Vaccine Rollout
Organizer: Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research
Published: April 5, 2021
Description: Fire departments in the U.S. share what worked and what didn’t work when they rolled out vaccines in their fire services.
‘Warp speed’ vaccine: Addressing firefighters’ concerns over the quick vaccine rollout
Author: Dr. Sara Jahnke
Published: February 10, 2021
Description: A Fire Rescue 1 article on the factors that facilitated the fast-tracking of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Sizing Up that Vaccine for Firefighters
Organizer: International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Published: January 19, 2021
Description (courtesy of IAFC): With doubts and concerns about the vaccine, fire service leaders are coming together to help provide information on the COVID-19 vaccine to turn the tide on the pandemic.
Understanding the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine
Developers: Dr. Clayton Kazan, Medical Director, LA County Fire
Published: December 4, 2020
Description: A 24-minute video on SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines: how they work, their development and clinical trials, and their safety.
Watch video
Physical Health
Long Term Health Impacts of COVID RoundTable
Panelists: Chief Todd Leduc, Dr. Sara Jahnke, Dr. Denise Smith, Ms. Lori Moore
Published: April 16, 2021
Description: The panel of research and fire service experts discuss the potential longer-term implications (cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological) to firefighters, the fire service, and public safety.
Watch recording (registration required)
COVID-19 Behavioral Health Webinar
Organizers: Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research
Published: April 2, 2021
Description: Fire service behavioral health experts discuss the scope of the pandemic, how firefighters have been impacted, and how we can best support them moving forward.
Mental Health
2021 BC First Responders Mental Health Speaker Series
Organizers: BC First Responders’ Mental Health
Published: February 2021
Description: 90-minute sessions on ways to promote positive mental health in first responder organizations during the pandemic.
Session 1: Navigating a changed world – Leadership in mental health during COVID-19
(Panelists: Dr. Greg Anderson, Dr. Allan Holmes, Dr. Vivien Lee)
Session 2: Surviving COVID-19 – Lessons on what we have lived and learned
(Panelists: Superintendent Andrew Chan, Dr. Mark Davies, Jayne Hamilton, Ryan Stewart)
COVID-19 Resources for Mental Health
Compiled by: BC First Responders’ Mental Health
Description: This webpage provides resources on how to support first responders’ mental health during the pandemic.
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Resilience Booster Poster
Developers: Resilient Minds, Canadian Mental Health Association
Description: A poster on how to care for your psychological health during the pandemic.
Download poster
CIPSRT COVID-19 Information and Resources for PSP
Developers: Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)
Description: The CIPSRT website provides general and mental health resources to help public safety personel cope with COVID-19.
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We’re Here for You!
Developers: First Responder Center for Excellence
Description: This website provides behavioural health resources (e.g., stress management, health and fitness, daily workouts) to help first responders cope with the pandemic.
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COVID-19 Resources for First Responders and their Family
Compiled by: Project All In
Description: This webpage provides resources on how to support first responders and their family during the pandemic.
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5 mental health tips for first responders during COVID-19
Author: Nick Halmasy (After the Call)
Published: March 30, 2020
Description: An article that offers strategies on how to cope during COVID-19.
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Minimizing stress during the COVID-19 crisis
Compiled by: US Fire administration
Published: April 2, 2020
Description: A webpage that provides tips on how first responders can protect their mental health during the pandemic.
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Self-care and COVID-19 exposure for first responder families
Compiled by: US Fire administration
Last reviewed: May 7, 2020
Description: A webpage that provides first responders with coping strategies for COVID-19 stress and exposures.
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First Responder Health
Developers: First Responder Health (Matt Johnston and team)
Description: A series of YouTube videos that help support first responders’ mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic.
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Media
Doc Talk
Published: 2021
Description: The Center for Fire, Rescue and EMS Health Research recently launched a new video series on COVID-19. “Doc Talk” with Dr. James Augustine (Medical Director with Fire Rescue agencies in Atlanta, Georgia, in Naples, Florida, and in Dayton, Ohio) provides briefings in current events, emerging trends and science of COVID-19, and how it impacts fire and emergency personnel.
View 10-min videos
Confronting COVID-19: The surges ahead, testing reliability, and long-term fire service impacts
Published: July 1, 2020
Description: Dr. Sara Jahnke discusses the impact of the pandemic on the U.S. fire service with Chief Marc Bashoor in this episode of Side Alpha on FireRescue1 podcast (30 min).
Containing COVID-19
Author: Brieanne Charlebois (Fire Fighting in Canada)
Published: April 27, 2020
Description: An article on how fire departments across Canada are responding to the global pandemic.
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COVID-19 testing for first responders: Understanding antibody tests and immunity
Author: Dr. Sara Jahnke
Published: April 22, 2020
Description: A Fire Rescue 1 article on COVID-19 antibody tests and immunity.
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