Physical Wellness

We expect our tactical athletes to maintain fitness levels commensurate with the requirements of our profession. All front-line responders must pass an annual fit-for-duty physical each year. We base our annual exam on a nationally recognized standard from the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA 1582). Not only does this confirm their ability to perform, but also aids in early identification of addressable health concerns. 

Peer Fitness Team

Our Peer Fitness Team members assist with personalized plans to decrease the likelihood of occupational injuries and to improve and maintain strength, agility, endurance and nutrition. All of this is aimed at helping our members sustain long, healthy, high-performance careers with the OPFD.

Next Level

In early 2025, our team members completed their Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. This is the gold standard certification for trainers in professional sports and military special operations. 

Mental Wellness

The US Fire Administration states, "public safety personnel are 5 times more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression than their civilian counterparts." Additionally, "more first responders die of suicide than in the line of duty each year." Recognizing this, the OPFD invests significantly in mental resilience. 

Resources

Our Peer Support Team works to identify mental health issues and link members with available resources. We partner with Johnson County Mental Health to ensure our team's responses are appropriate.

In 2025, our Peer Support team completed a combined 122 hours of training aimed at helping their peers navigate occupational stress and maintain high reliability in a demanding profession. Our team members provided 85 individual peer interactions for direct support and referral to mental wellness resources. Additionally the team collaborated on several multi-disciplinary critical incident debriefings as part of the Johnson County Critical Incident Stress Management Team.

Resilience

This year, OPFD personnel completed over 330 hours of wellness, resilience and mental health training. This included an all-hands resilience-focused training by Dr. Ashley Clausen who presented on best-practices for firefighters and EMS personnel.

 Cancer Reduction

Because of our exposures to the byproducts of fires, firefighters face increased rates of cancers. For example, according to the American Cancer Society, we face a 58% higher rate of skin cancer and 40% higher rate of kidney cancer. To help combat these dangers, the Overland Park Fire Department employs a variety of cancer reduction measures. From our fire station design to our breathing apparatus and turnout gear, we're constantly looking for the best ways to keep carcinogens isolated from our responders.

In 2025, we conducted a hands-on, gear assessment trial. We looked at the next-generation PFAS-free turnout suits to identify the best balance of thermal protection and toxin resistance ahead of our next replacement cycle. To supplement this physical barrier, we have integrated CGIs (Combustible Gas Indicators) into our protocol for every apparatus. This allows us to monitor the air on-scene and in apparatus cabs so we can make data-driven decisions about when it is truly safe to remove breathing apparatus (SCBA) or stow gear. This dual approach of vetting the highest-quality equipment and employing enhanced detection ensures we are minimizing carcinogenic exposure at every stage of an incident.

Additionally, this year we were able to obtain approval to implement Lifescan bodyscans for our responders. These scans will aid with early detection of cancers and other health concerns, increasing treatment opportunities. We will begin these bodyscans in 2026.