Many would assume that the No. 1 cause of death for firefighters would be smoke inhalation or burns. However, it is actually anxiety and exertion, which is responsible for taking the lives of around 50 firefighters every year across the globe, Sean Campbell, the chief of the Arcata Fire District Battalion in California, told scientists at Humboldt State University.

Do first responders need stricter fitness standards?
According to a study conducted by researchers at Humboldt State University, many first responders are not in the proper physical shape because their departments do not require them to follow strict physical standards. Mental health is also a major factor for those with high-stress jobs, like firefighters and policemen, and must be looked after as well.

To assist these servicemembers in maintaining the emotional and physical demands of their work, Young Sub Kwon, head researcher and director of Humboldt State's Human Performance Lab, started a program in which first responders can volunteer to participate.

New fitness program set to get servicemembers in shape
In the Human Performance Lab, the team set up innovative exercise equipment that is able to track people's flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. Once Kwon gets a detailed understanding of each participant's physical health from initial testing, he creates an individualized fitness program for them. 

"Many firefighters and police officers are not healthy because their jobs put them under stress," said Kwon. "For example, police officers are often driving. If they need to pursue a suspect on foot, there's no warming up. They have to run as fast as they can. Through a fitness program, I can help improve their capacity to run without warming up."

As Kwon starts to understand what each servicemember can handle, he provides training, including exercises like treadmill runs and bench presses, that gets increasingly harder over the course of a month. Volunteers partaking in the program have already begun to notice results. 

The job of a first responder can be incredibly stressful and begin to take a toll on his or her well-being. If servicemembers aren't taking the proper measures to ensure that they are as stress-free as possible, they may become more likely to develop conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder. 

If you are a first responder, you know firsthand that the public expects a lot from you, which can feel like a lot of pressure. The intensive nature of your daily work can also cause burnout unless you are taking time to relax and ensure that your mental and physical health is in check. Here are a few ways that you can make sure that you are effectively managing your stress.

1. Try to leave work at work
Once work is over, first responders should do their best to free their minds of the stresses associated with their day. It could be beneficial to begin a daily ritual at the end of a shift to switch your mind to another state – one that is free of the anticipation or anxiety that may be experienced at work. For example, changing out of your uniform at the end of the day and going to the gym or meeting friends for a coffee before heading home can help your mind free itself of any anxiety that tends to stick with you after your shift.

Isolation and social withdrawal can lead to depression and other serious conditions. Simply surrounding yourself with loved ones and participating in hobbies or activities with them can effectively balance your work and personal life. Exercising releases endorphins that drastically improve one's mood and will simultaneously work to help you keep up with the physical demands of the job. Other hobbies like yoga will encourage relaxation while reducing anxiety and depression. Journaling or reading may not immediately seem like stress-reducing hobbies, but they have been known to help refocus your thoughts and improve your communication skills if you plan on seeing a therapist to talk about your anxiety.

2. Consume a healthy diet
As a first responder, you might not have many opportunities to sit down and eat a healthy breakfast or lunch. However, this does not mean that you should start eating fast food or rely on unhealthy snacks for nourishment. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, consuming unhealthy, processed foods can lead to more than just weight gain and a lack of sufficient nutrients, but mental side effects as well. 

Irritability, inability to concentrate and reduced energy levels are all associated with an unhealthy diet. Not only do these side effects make it difficult to perform daily tasks, but they also increase your risk of feeling stress and anxiety. Consuming plenty of vegetables and lean protein will keep your head clear and make it easier to focus.   

3. Seek support
The stress that comes from dealing with emergency situations, injuries and death can be too much to handle on your own. Although loved ones and hobbies can temporarily take your mind off of these stressors, it is best to seek help as well. 

There are support groups and counselors that can help first responders experiencing serious anxiety and stress as a result of traumatic events. Local support groups will give you the opportunity to meet others who went through similar events and are experiencing the same emotions.

Similarly, working with an individual therapist will help you recover from a traumatic experience and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Once you're able to establish a positive, healthy outlook and daily routine, your ability to cope with stress will drastically improve. 

The residents of Taylor, Missouri, wanted to show their gratitude to the first responders that assist their community every day. Members of the Wick Road Baptist Church organized the first-ever First Responders Appreciation Day.

Service honors its community's heroes
The leaders of the church had read about a similar event in Virginia and wanted to provide the same type of day for their firefighters, EMTs and policemen who put their lives on the line to ensure that the community is safe. 

"It was just a gesture to show our appreciation for a job well done," Pastor Dan Broaddus told The News-Herald. "In every profession, there are some crazy people. We're seeing that on the television news. We realize that all of our freedom and safety and security comes from these first responders."

A touching service for many
The turnout was a success, with over 40 policemen, auxiliary officers and firefighters showing up to the church's service. Broaddus explained to The News-Herald that a few of the first responders had to leave the service to attend to emergencies. He said that it was a real reminder of the dedication these men and women have to protect the community around the clock. 

Many of the residents also provided meals for the servicemembers, recognizing that emergency responders are not always able to indulge in a hot meal when they have to drop everything and bolt to the scene of a crime or put out a burning building. Extra meals were made so the departments could keep them stored for officers whenever needed.

The service was touching for many church members who had lost a loved one who died in the line of duty. The day was dedicated to these men and women and those who sacrificed their lives.

Beaverton, Oregon, recently announced itself as the Purple Heart City in honor of the veterans who live there. It became official during a ceremony in Veteran's Memorial Park, where a sign was erected declaring the city's new title.

City officials award Purple Heart vets with proclamation
A group of veterans had gathered outside the Beaverton City Council, where they asked city officials to consider making Beaverton a Purple Heart City.

After hearing about their drive, Mayor Denny Doyle informed the veterans that he would do whatever he could to ensure that the Oregon League of Cities heard about their request. He was impressed by the dedication and passion that the veterans put into getting officials to include Beaverton in the Purple Heart Cities. 

Officials did not hesitate to honor them with a proclamation. Now Beaverton is one of eight Purple Heart Cities in Oregon and is currently the largest in the group. 

"Beaverton appreciates the sacrifices our Purple Heart recipients made in defending our freedoms and believes it is important that we acknowledge them for their courage and show them the honor and support they have earned," stated the proclamation.

City Councilor Lacey Beaty told The Oregonian that people often forget that these veterans sacrificed so much for them. Including Beaverton in the list of cities will ensure that the residents never forget what these men and women have done to protect them.

Veterans gather and reflect
Joel Dulashanti, a retired Army sniper, told The Oregonian that this proclamation is a great way to spread awareness of the sacrifices veterans have made fighting for their country. Dulashanti was shot four times during his tour in Afghanistan and lost one of his legs, returning home as a Purple Heart recipient. He is one of the leaders of the drive to make more cities Purple Heart Cities with the ultimate goal of turning Oregon into the Purple Heart State. 

"I believe that this event is going to be a huge deal that will get the ball rolling for a lot of things legislatively throughout our state that'll support our veterans," Dulashanti said in a meeting held to announce the city's new title, according to the news source.

There were eight other Purple Heart recipients who fought in various wars, from Afghanistan to Vietnam, gathered at the meeting. Other veterans also showed up to support the city's decision to honor their fellow vets. 

Purple Heart veteran Allen Bush was also in attendance. He told stories of how he came to the aid of his fellow soldiers after being seriously injured by two grenade explosions during the terrorist attack on Puerto Rico in 1997. Bush received a Silver Star, one of the highest honors in the military, for his act of bravery. However, Bush was humble about his awards, saying that he may have sacrificed his well-being, but many soldiers who received a Purple Heart sacrificed their entire lives.

Boston held its first One Boston Day on April 15 to mark the second anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. According to the One Boston Day website, the commemorative day was meant to be "a celebration of the resiliency, generosity and strength of the people that make Boston the great city it is." Part of this strength comes from the courage of the first responders who helped save lives at the scene of the incident. 

Boston shows gratitude to first responders
Boston.com noted that the city observed a moment of silence at 2:49 p.m. followed by the ringing of church bells to remember all of the lives that were taken and the people who were injured. Bostonians were also encouraged to honor the victims through random acts of kindness on the day of the anniversary. 

Locals put a special focus on thanking the police officers, firefighters, EMTs and other first responders who came to the rescue of marathon runners and bystanders and have since continued to play a major role in the city's recovery.

The news source showed pictures of posters created by local school children who wanted to show their gratitude to Boston's first responders. Littered with traces of their hand prints and notes reading, "Thank you to all the helpers who lent a hand and who were so brave," the colorful displays lined the streets of the city. 

Local news station donates to city's firefighters
7News, a local news station in Boston, wanted to give a special thanks to the first responders who protected the lives of thousands during the incident two years ago. The news team partnered with Lowe's and Legal Seafoods to provide Boston Police District 4 with new furniture for their community living space, including eight brand new tables and 56 chairs from Lowe's.

The Civilian Operations Dispatchers who work with the Boston Fire Department gathered for a free lunch from Legal Seafoods. The first responders were able to indulge in delicacies like lobster and shrimp cocktail. 

Peter Clifford, the superintendent of the Fire Dispatch Center, explained to WHDH that the 911 dispatchers have an equally important role as the firefighters, as they are the eyes and ears of the operations during emergencies. 

Other departments across the city were shown thanks with flowers and cakes from grateful civilians and schools.

Tim Smith spent 26 years as an active duty servicemember in the Army. He fought in wars all over the world, including the most recent Iraq wars. After experiencing difficulties due to a lack of finances, Smith was grateful to receive a helping hand from a local program catering to homeless veterans. 

Program rescues veteran from homelessness
Following his deployment, Smith returned to his hometown of Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, where he made plans to stay with his family. He told Lehigh Valley Live that after a short period of time, limited space caused him to move out and sleep in his car. That is, until the Hope for Veterans program came to his aid.

The Hope for Veterans program is a nonprofit organization based in New Jersey and run by Community Hope. According to Community Hope, the program has provided housing and support services to over 2,000 veterans and their families. The outreach assistant, Kevin Cope, emphasized the importance of helping retired servicemembers find homes during life after military deployment. 

"Sometimes, it's hard for a veteran to ask for help," Cope told Lehigh Valley Live. "Because they have great pride, it's hard to come forward and say, 'Look it, I'm at my wit's end. I need help.' There are a number of veterans out here that we've helped already, but there's a lot more work to do."

Smith was referred to Hope for Veterans by the Veterans Affairs office. He said that it was only a couple of days following his meeting with one of the program's representatives that he was searching for apartments. 

Smith said that his case manager, Janet Swanson, was the reason he got his place so quickly, telling the news source that when landlords would delay a showing, she would manage to change their minds to ensure that he had a place to stay as soon as possible. He noted that her can-do attitude was encouraging and inspiring. She even ensured that he got an apartment close to a bus stop because his truck had recently broke down. The program also provided him with furniture and essential household equipment so he could get right to living comfortably. 

Veteran finds stability and hope
Once Smith had his apartment in place, the next step was continuing his education. The Hope for Veterans program helped him with this too. He is currently enrolled in The Wescoe School at Muhlenberg. After he found out the GI Bill would cover his tuition, the organization provided him with a bus pass to attend daily classes.

"Tim is not abnormal. He's a typical case among homeless veterans in that they can't afford a vehicle. So what other means of transportation are out there?" Cope asked. "Up here, it's bus transportation."

Smith is finally in a good, stable place without being weighed down by stress since returning from war. He gives the credit to the Veterans for Hope program, explaining that he would not be where he is today if it were not for its group of dedicated volunteers. 

Every year during the second full week of April, National Public Safety Telecommunications Week takes place as a way to honor first responders who handle emergency calls. Whether it is the firefighters who rush out to extinguish a fire or the brave men and women who escort injured citizens to the hospital, all public safety servicemembers need a reliable dispatcher to get to the scene as fast as possible.

The week was introduced by Congress as a bill in 1991 and was approved by President Clinton in 1994. It has since been celebrated on a national scale. The ability of first responders and their dispatchers to handle a call with efficiency and care can mean the difference between life and death in many emergency situations. 

According to Jacksonville Progress, civilians across the country are reaching out to their public safety responders through letters and cards. However, a gesture as simple as a "Thank you" can go a long way in letting local public safety dispatchers know how valued they are throughout the community.

This year's National Public Safety Telecommunications Week will take place from April 12 to 19. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were over 6.5 million military veterans living in Tennessee in 2014. The state's government has been working to make life easier for both active duty and retired military servicemembers as this number grows each year. 

New program comes to aid of young servicemembers
The most recent effort by the state government is a bill introduced by the House of Representatives. Referred to as House Bill 8, the legislation will make sure that high school students who train their junior and senior years in the National Guard or who go on to advanced training after their senior year will be eligible to partake in the Tennessee Promise Program.

The program will begin in the fall of 2015, along with the start of the school year. High school graduates will be able to attend a community college at no charge. Other scholarships from the federal Pell program and HOPE, the career development program, do not often cover all of their members' tuition. The state's new program works to cover the rest of their college fees to relieve students of the burden completely. 

Students receive educational mentor 
Many students training for service while in school require assistance keeping their grades up, as the time commitment to their other responsibilities can take a toll on their studies. 

In addition to providing financial support, the new program will serve as an opportunity to learn from a mentor. Volunteers will give the students guidance on an educational and motivational level. Clarksville Online noted that students will also have to complete eight hours of community service each term they are enrolled in the program while maintaining a 2.0 GPA. 

There are close to 660,000 veterans living in Michigan. Around 70,000 of these servicemembers are receiving compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, while there are many more who are not accounted for. These disabilities range from mental health conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder, to physical injuries that have left veterans immobile.

Michigan Warriors program brings hope to veterans 
Residents from Royal Oak, Michigan, believe that disabled servicemembers should be honored for their sacrifices. This is why the city is hosting this year's Guns & Hoses hockey game for the Michigan Warriors Hockey Program. According to HometownLife, the Michigan Warriors is a nonprofit organization that supports disabled veterans who want to play hockey, socialize and remain active after their injuries.

Since its start in 2010, the city's police and fire departments have faced off in the Guns & Hoses game. It has raised funds for a variety of charities, ranging from individual residents in need of support to statewide organizations. However, this year's charity is one of particular importance to Royal Oak Police Sgt. Patrick Stanton, a U.S. army veteran who started the hockey program with firefighter Tony Cattini.

Army veteran Josh Krajewski founded the Michigan Warriors in 2013, driven by his own desire to live life like he did before deployment after being injured. The hockey program for veterans is both developmental and competitive, catering to players of all skill levels. 

Krajewski spent around four years fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, returning home in 2009. He told the Oakland Press that the focus of the program is not that the players were injured at war, but that they all came together to overcome hardships they had to face upon returning to life after service. Seeing his fellow veterans temporarily forget about their physical or mental disabilities is what makes the program so special. 

"We are completely honored to be chosen by Guns & Hoses and we are going to try to get our whole team out for the game," Krajewski told the Royal Oak Press. "I'd never heard of Guns & Hoses until they contacted me about two months ago and said they wanted to donate to our program. I was absolutely floored by the gesture."

Firefighters and policemen face off for good cause
Stanton joined the players on the ice at one of their practices to see what the team was all about. He told the Royal Oak Press that it was clear the veterans were enjoying themselves and greatly benefiting from the sense of friendship that the program provides. 

"We are playing for men and women who have served their nation with distinction," Stanton explained. "The game is an opportunity to support them, as well as watch some of Royal Oak's police and firefighters support the community and have some fun."

Since the annual game started, the firefighters and policemen have won an equal number of games, the policemen coming on top the last couple of competitions and the firefighters taking the first two.

The Guns & Hoses game has raised around $25,000 so far for its charities. One donation went to a Madison Heights police officer's family after he passed away from severe acute respiratory syndrome. Others were given to multiple autism organizations, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Canine Advocacy Program.

The game takes place on April 18 and charges viewers $10. All proceedings will go to the Michigan Warriors. Krajewski is excited to use the donation to keep his members playing throughout the upcoming season.

Senators in Connecticut recently announced a bill that aims to give women veterans more benefits and provide services that they can use as they transition to civilian life. The legislation, Senate Bill 904, is reportedly a top priority in the Senate session on April 8, 2015. 

Female veterans in need of enhanced outreach 
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a total of 20 percent of veterans in the U.S. are women. Connecticut is currently home to approximately 16,545 retired female servicemembers. Many of these veterans feel that it is still incredibly difficult to get jobs after returning from deployment. 

Shannon Lyons of Bridgeport was a U.S. Army veteran who fought in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. She told the Connecticut Post in an interview that she and her friends are still in need of help finding jobs and houses. Lyons currently lives at The PFC Nicholas A. Madaras Home, which is sponsored by the nonprofit organization Home for the Brave to house homeless female veterans.

"If people go out and get a job, they're just getting by, but they're spending all their money on rent and cannot hope to save to buy a home," said Lyons. 

Senate President Martin M. Looney pointed out that there are more women home from war than there have ever been in the past. The resources that have been provided for them are no longer sufficient due to the large increase in people who need them. 

A bill long overdue
Democratic members of the Senate noted that the women who have been returning from war are usually younger than their fellow male veterans, but close to 84 percent of retired women servicemembers are old enough to work, according to RepublicAmerican.com.

The vast majority of these women do not know what their benefits are or which services are at their disposal. Improved outreach would make them more aware of what is available to them, explained Jackie Evonsion, the women's outreach coordinator for the American Legion Department of Connecticut. Evonsion is also a veteran herself, having served as a member of the U.S. Air Force. She explained that when she returned from war in her 20s, she too was unaware of the benefits she could have taken advantage of. 

The Senate Bill 904 requires that the Department of Veterans' Services develop a program that increases the number of females aware of their eligibility for state and federal aid. If it is passed, it will also become mandatory for the department to reexamine the needs of women vets, determining which benefits and services are needed but remain unavailable to them. Existing programs will also be assessed to ensure that they have been helpful.

Program members will also have to make recommendations for the commissioner of veteran's affairs each year on how to improve benefits and services. An additional change would include how the state defines a veteran. The bill would consider anyone discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service an eligible veteran.