Science to the Station

Viva La Science! 🎉 Early bird registration is officially open for the 2026 Science to the Station Conference and you’re going to want to lock in your spot before the rate goes up!!! 📅 November 3–5, 2026 | 📍 Kansas City, MO The Science to the Station Conference is the ONLY conference built specifically to bridge the gap between fire and emergency service research and the people who actually need it: the firefighters, EMS providers, officers, chiefs, and health advocates on the front lines every day. This isn’t death by PowerPoint. It’s three days of real science, real conversations, and real takeaways you can bring back to your department. Whether you’re a researcher, a practitioner, or someone who just knows the fire service deserves better health outcomes: this is your room. What to expect: 🔬 Cutting-edge research on cancer, cardiovascular health, behavioral health, sleep, and more 🎤 Speakers who translate the science into something you can actually use 🤝 A community of people who care as much about this work as you do 🎉 Three days of big energy in the heart of Kansas City Early bird pricing won’t last long. Register now and be part of the movement bringing science to the station! 🔗 /S2Sconference #ScienceToTheStation #S2S2026 #VivalaSciencia #FirefighterHealth

Think about the last change your department tried to roll out. New gear, a wellness program, a policy update. Did it stick? If it didn’t, you’re not alone. Research shows 60-70% of organizational change efforts fail, and fire departments are no exception. The latest SCAN from our Scholars Alliance breaks down what actually makes change work, and what kills it before it ever gets off the ground. Spoiler: it comes down to leadership, communication, and getting the right people in the room from the start. This one is worth a read whether you’re a chief trying to lead change or a firefighter wondering why nothing ever seems to stick. Download the full paper and explore more SCANs at: science2station.org/scholars-scans #FireService #ScienceToTheStation

BREAKING SCIENCE: Firefighter Gear Was Never Built for Women’s Bodies - New Research Says It’s Time to Fix That 🔬🔥 The NFPAs four-point sizing standard for personal protective clothing dates to 1970. It was designed primarily around male bodies. Researchers say it isn’t working and the consequences are real. 📊 The Problem: * The human body has 200+ relevant measurements - current standards use 4 * Those four: chest/bust, sleeve length, waist, inseam * Less than 10% of female U.S. firefighters report wearing women’s-specific gear ⚠️ The Consequences: Ill-fitting PPC contributes to falls, trips, increased physical strain, reduced mobility, and greater risk of on-duty injury for female firefighters compared to their male counterparts. 🚧 Access Barriers Make It Worse: Outdated body size references, budget constraints, limited availability, and uninformed managerial decisions all stand between female firefighters and gear that actually fits. 💡 The Fix Starts With Better Data: A comprehensive measurement database reflecting the full range of women’s body sizes and shapes would meaningfully improve fit, safety, and operational effectiveness across the board. Administrators have a critical role here and so do the firefighters themselves. Use your voice. Ask questions about your gear. The data is clear: this matters. 📥 For more info and to download this breakdown, visit: science2station.org/breaking #FirefighterHealth #WomenInFire #PPC #FireService #ScienceToTheStation FirefighterSafety BreakingScience

CAVE. Chiefs Against Virtually Everything. Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer over at FireRescue1 named something a lot of us in the fire service have seen, and if we’re honest, probably embodied at some point. It’s the leadership posture where protecting the familiar quietly becomes more important than improving the organization. It sounds like “we tried that once” and “our people aren’t ready.” It hides behind experience. And according to the research: Kahneman, Edmondson, March - it’s not just a personality flaw. It’s a deeply human response to perceived risk that can calcify into culture. This one is worth your time, especially if you’re in a leadership role or working alongside someone who might be stuck in the cave. 🔗 Link to read: /cave #WhatWeReReading #FireServiceLeadership #ScienceToTheStation

Spring is beautiful. Spring is also trying to destroy your sinuses. 🌸😤 If you’ve been sneezing your way through shift lately, this Doc Talk is for you. Allergy season is here... and between unpredictable pollen counts and the tiny particles you can’t even see, your immune system is working overtime right now. The good news? There’s a lot you can do. The catch? Not all options are shift-friendly (looking at you, Benadryl 👀). We break down what’s actually happening in your body, what to talk to your doc about, and how to reduce your exposure before you’re completely miserable. Bonus: traveling this summer? We’ve got a quick but important heads up on travel health risks, including one that’s rare but very much worth knowing about. Hang in there, NERDS. Summer’s almost here. ☀️ 🔗 Watch: /DocTalk #DocTalk #AllergySeason #FirefighterHealth #NerdBird

May the 4th seemed to be a trend for everyone. Revenge of the 5th? That’s for us! If you know, you know... and if you’re part of the Science to the Station community, there’s a good chance you definitely know!!! Happy Revenge of the 5th from the nerdiest corner of the fire & emergency service galaxy! #RevengeOfThe5th #ScienceToTheStation #FireServiceNerds

You’ve got mail! 📬 SUPER NERD CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS OPEN! If you’re an S2S member or a previous conference attendee, check your inbox, we sent your exclusive early access registration link yesterday and it is LIVE right now. Early Nerdbirdgistration is $550, and hotel reservations are open for members ONLY at this stage. This is your window before the doors open to everyone else. Here’s what you need to know: 🔓 Early Access (Members & Previous Attendees): Open NOW 🌐 Registration Opens for ALL: May 11, 2026 🐦 Last Day for Early Bird Pricing: July 3, 2026 💸 Full Price Registration Begins: July 4, 2026 ↩️ Full Refund Deadline (minus $50 processing fee): September 5, 2026 🚫 No Refunds Beginning: October 6, 2026 🏨 Host Hotel Cut-Off Date: October 9, 2026 Didn’t get the email and you’ve attended before? Reach out to us at [email protected] and we’ll get you sorted. Kansas City, November 3–5. See you there. 🤓🔬 #ScienceToTheStation #Nerdstock2026 #FirefighterHealth #S2S2026

Today is International Firefighters Day! Honestly, it’s one of our favorite days of the year. 🔬🚒 The science is clear: firefighters face real, measurable health risks every time they do their job. That’s exactly why we show up every day, to make sure the research gets to the people who need it most. To every firefighter out there, from every department, in every corner of the world: thank you. Your health matters and we are honored to be in your corner. We’re working for you. Always! #InternationalFirefightersDay #ScienceToTheStation #FirefighterHealth #FireService

The Mandalorian protects Grogu with everything he’s got. We protect firefighters and EMS providers with peer-reviewed research. Same energy! 🔬⚔️ Cancer prevention. Cardiovascular health. Behavioral health. Sleep. Exposure reduction. We’re coming for every threat that follows firefighters home from a call: and we’re using evidence-based science to do it. May the 4th be with you: and may your department take firefighter health seriously before we have to use the Darksaber to make the point. 🤣 Happy Star Wars Day from your favorite firefighter health research nerds. 🖤 #MayThe4thBeWithYou #StarWarsDay #FirefighterHealth #ScienceToTheStation #ThisIsTheWay

Every year we get to watch something genuinely special happen: firefighters, EMS providers, researchers, clinicians, and health professionals walk into the same room, and we get a little healthier because of it. This is the conference for our NERDS and honestly, for anyone who believes firefighters deserve better health outcomes and that evidence-based science is how we get there. Whether you’re a researcher, a clinician, a firefighter, a paramedic, a EMT, or someone who just found us... you belong here! That’s what we built this conference to be, and we couldn’t be more proud of what it’s become. Kansas City, we’re coming for you! 🔬🔥 📅 November 3–5, 2026 | Kansas City, MO 🔓 S2S Members & past attendees: Early access opens May 4 🔓 Registration opens for everyone: May 11 💥 Early bird pricing: $550 — ends July 3 Grab your spot early. This knowledge - this COMMUNITY is worth showing up for! LEARN MORE: science2station.org/s2sconference #ScienceToTheStation #S2SConference #S2S2026 #FirefighterHealth

Peptides are having a major moment right now - and honestly? The NERDS in us love it. 🧬 But before you add anything to your supplement stack, let’s talk about what peptides actually are, what the science actually says, and why “trending” doesn’t equal “safe.” Spoiler: even insulin, one of the most well-studied peptides in existence, with 100+ years of research, has a narrow safety window that varies person to person. That should tell you something. In this Doc Talk, we break down the basics, the red flags, and what you should actually look for before trusting a peptide claim. (And yes, we clear up the creatine confusion too. Not a peptide. Much better studied. You’re welcome.) Read the science. Always. 💪 Full video 🔗: /doctalk #FirefighterHealth #Wellness #DocTalk #ScienceToTheStation

Sleep is one of the biggest health threats in the fire service, and we need your help to study it. 🔬 The SHIFT Study (Shift Scheduling and Sleep Health in Firefighters) is a FEMA-funded national research study led by Dr. Sara Jahnke examining how sleep and behavioral health impact firefighter safety, performance, and long-term well-being. Career and volunteer firefighters are invited to participate. Volunteer firefighters can also invite their spouse or partner. Here’s what’s involved: → Anonymous online survey → 30–45 minutes → Option to sign up for future research opportunities Your experiences don’t always make it into policy or practice. This study helps change that. IF WE WANT BETTER OUTCOMES, WE NEED BETTER DATA. YOUR VOICE MATTERS. 👉 Take the survey: bit.ly/Sleep-Research Questions? Contact Brittany Hollerbach at [email protected] #FirefighterHealth #SleepHealth #FireService #ResearchNeeded