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Johnny Agar is an exceptional individual who has faced numerous challenges with resilience and determination. Born with cerebral palsy, he has become an accomplished athlete, motivational speaker, and advocate for inclusion. He has participated in marathons and triathlons, captivating audiences with his inspiring story. Johnny actively works to raise awareness about the importance of creating inclusive environments that embrace diversity. His unwavering spirit and dedication to making a difference make him a true role model.

Walter McKinley is an inspirational speaker, trainer, and #1 best-selling author of "Monsters In My House, A True Story." He helps people create a positive mindset, heal trauma, build resilience, communicate better, and provide world-class customer service. His captivating talks draw from his own childhood journey of extreme trauma, fourteen moves, homelessness, and attempted teen suicide. He's a retired Naval Intelligence Officer and former Fortune 300 Corporate Executive with over 25 years of leadership experience. Walt's diverse life experience shows that your history doesn't define your legacy. He helps audiences unlock their potential and use their past as rocket fuel for the future. He's a voice of leadership, healing, and success.

First Sergeant Matt Eversmann is an American hero who embodies the importance of duty, courage, and selfless service in extraordinary circumstances. In 1993, Matt led a raid against an enemy militia in Mogadishu, Somalia. His inspiring story of survival was depicted in the film Black Hawk Down. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star. After his service, Matt drew from his military experience to teach the next generation of warriors. He worked at the Army War College, taught at Johns Hopkins University, and deployed to Iraq during The Surge. Matt has since used his experiences to show organizations how to build resilient teams. He has consulted in healthcare, non-profit, and data management. Matt recently returned from Afghanistan where he filmed a documentary for PBS. He has co-authored The Battle of Mogadishu and two New York Times bestsellers with James Patterson. Matt and his wife, Tori, run a consulting company and co-host a weekly podcast, The Veterans Nation.

SA Thomas O'Connor worked for 15 years as a Municipal Officer in Massachusetts before joining the FBI in 1997. He specialized in narcotics and violent gang investigations, and worked on both International and Domestic Terrorism cases. He served as program coordinator for investigations involving extremist groups and was Case Agent for both the Pentagon and Family Research Council shootings. He has led forensic teams to multiple terrorist attacks around the world, and is a certified Adjunct Faculty member for the FBI Academy and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. SA O'Connor was a member of the FBI Agents Association's National Executive Board for 10 years and served as Vice President and President. He retired on September 11, 2019, in honor of FBI Agents who passed due to the 9-11 attack and related illnesses.

Keeping fit while being in the law enforcement community can be very difficult. Long hours, working midnights, sometimes and most often the food that you have on a midnight shift is not always the best. So doing things like bringing your meals to work with you, preparing before you get there. If your department doesn't allow for time to work out, then make time for it before you go to work. I've been retired for three years now and still working and busy, but finding time to get that workout in is important. And whether that is going for a hike, going for a run, getting on an elliptical, just doing some basic stretching to keep yourself fit, this is all really important stuff. And if you don't find time for that, then you're not going to have time to do your job well. And so it is of utmost importance that people in law enforcement, firefighters, first responder community overall stay fit so they can do their jobs and they can live longer and be healthier. So get out there, find your fit and get a sweat on and make sure that you take care of yourselves first so you can take care of others. It's like being on an airplane, when that mask drops, you put your mask on first before you can help others.

Staying fit in the law enforcement community can be difficult due to long hours and often poor quality food. It's important that you make time for exercise, whether it's going for a hike, running, or using an elliptical. Taking care of yourself is important so that you can take care of others.

How do you keep yourself fit for being a first responder when you work such long hours?

Prioritizing Fitness: Essential for First Responders' Well-being

Keeping fit as a first responder can be challenging due to long hours and irregular shifts. It's common to have limited access to healthy food options while working, especially during overnight shifts. To stay fit, it's important to plan ahead by bringing your own meals to work and preparing them in advance. If your department doesn't allow time for working out on duty, prioritize exercise before starting your shift. Even after retirement, finding time for workouts remains crucial. Whether it's going for a hike, run, or using an elliptical machine, engaging in basic stretching exercises, staying active is vital. Neglecting fitness can negatively impact job performance and overall well-being. It's paramount for law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and other first responders to maintain their fitness levels for the sake of their work and personal health. Prioritize self-care so that you can effectively care for others. Remember the airplane analogy - put on your own mask before assisting others.

What is the most difficult part of personal wellness for first responders? I think it's actually finding the time to getting out there, getting a sweat on, getting out in nature, kind of getting away from the job. Those are the things that are most important, spending time with your family and friends, doing some positive things, hiking, skiing, just getting out there, away from your daily work efforts, right? So changing it up a little bit and making some time for yourself. And that can include family, friends, but just getting away from it and taking some time and doing some positive stuff. That doesn't always include having a beer, but it may. But also just getting out for a hike and taking care of yourself. And that's pretty difficult with the shift work and all the hours that are spent on the job. Make every effort to find the time, even if it's a couple of hours a week at first, and make it happen.

Finding the time to take care of yourself and do positive activities can be difficult for first responders due to shift work and long hours on the job, but make every effort to find the time, even if it's a couple of hours a week at first, to get out and do something positive.

What aspects of personal wellness do you find most challenging as a first responder?

First responders face challenges in prioritizing personal wellness

As a first responder, the most challenging aspect of personal wellness is finding the time to prioritize activities that promote well-being. It's crucial to carve out time for physical exercise, spending time in nature, and engaging in positive activities outside of work. This includes spending quality time with family and friends, participating in activities like hiking or skiing, and simply getting away from the daily demands of the job. Making time for oneself is essential. While it may involve enjoying a drink with friends, it also extends to engaging in activities like hiking or taking care of one's physical health. Balancing personal wellness with demanding shift work and long hours can be difficult, but it's important to make every effort to find even a couple of hours per week for self-care and make it a priority.

Patrick, having first responders actually reach out and get help has been a difficult process for many, many years. Hopefully it's getting better with some internal efforts by agencies to take better care of their people. Over the decades in law enforcement, we went from kind of just internalizing all the stresses to potentially over-drinking, abuses of other types. These are all negatives. And now we're starting to see more people that are talking to their coworkers, having employee assistance groups that they can go to. I know a good friend of mine, Keith Shibley, is very active in talking about the issues that he had and how those led to alcohol abuse and how he turned that around and made a positive out of it. So these are important things because your wellness is top of the mark. If you don't stay healthy, you can't be good for your job, you can't be good for the community, you can't be good for your family, and most of all, you can't be good for yourself. So take care of yourselves, ask for help. Law enforcement and military suicides are way up and we don't want to have any more of those. Ask for help before you need it.

It has been difficult for first responders to reach out and get help in the past. However, there have been internal efforts by agencies to take better care of their people such as through employee assistance groups that people can go to. It is important for first responders to take care of themselves, ask for help when needed, and look after their wellness.

Why is it so hard for first responders to come forward and ask for help when they need it?

Breaking the Silence: First Responders Struggle to Seek Help

It has historically been challenging for first responders to seek help when they need it. However, there are efforts being made within agencies to improve support and care for these individuals. In the past, many first responders internalized their stresses, leading to negative coping mechanisms such as excessive drinking or other abusive behaviors. Thankfully, we are now witnessing a shift towards more open communication among colleagues and the establishment of employee assistance groups. It's crucial to prioritize your wellness because without good health, you cannot effectively perform your duties, support your community, or be there for your loved ones. Taking care of yourself and reaching out for help is essential. The rise in suicides among law enforcement and military personnel highlights the urgency of seeking assistance before it's too late. Let's work towards breaking down the barriers and ensuring that first responders have access to the help they need when they need it.