Women In Fire

The fire service has a drinking problem. The data says so - and for women, the risks are different. 🔬

Women's bodies metabolize alcohol more slowly than men's. The thresholds for harm are lower. And yet most women in the fire service are applying male-based guidelines to their own health. That stops today.

Here's what the science actually says:
- Nearly half of all career firefighters report heavy drinking on their off days, rates that are dramatically higher than the military and the general public
- Binge drinking for women starts at 4 drinks in 2 hours, not 5. That's the evidence-based threshold and most people don't know it
- Alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen, the same classification as asbestos, and it is directly linked to female breast cancer. Firefighters already face elevated cancer risk from the fireground. Heavy drinking compounds it
- Research explicitly states that the sleep-disrupting effects of alcohol are stronger in women than men, critical for anyone on a 24-hour shift schedule
- If you ever file a cancer claim, your alcohol history can be a factor in determining whether your cancer is deemed job-related

This isn't a judgment. This is information. Information that has been sitting in a research monograph that Women in Fire helped develop, and every woman in the fire service deserves to have it.

🔗 Read and download the full resource: womeninfire.org/resources

We are so excited to welcome our newest Northeast Region Trustee — Chris Archibald! 🔥

Chris brings an extraordinary depth of experience to this role. A Navy veteran, she went on to become the first full-time female Lieutenant at Henniker Fire Rescue in New Hampshire, a milestone that says everything about who she is and what she stands for.

As our Northeast Region Trustee, Chris will serve as a direct link between Women in Fire and fire and EMS departments across the Northeast, advocating for women in the region and helping grow our community where it matters most, at the local level.

Chris currently serves as Fire Service Program Manager at Stedfast USA and sits on multiple NFPA committees, where she is actively shaping the future of firefighter gear and safety standards. A teacher and mentor at heart, Chris has dedicated her career to watching the next generation of firefighters grow.

She also holds a Doctorate in Law, a Master's in Healthcare Administration, and two bachelor's degrees, and we are incredibly proud to have that expertise representing the Northeast on our board.

Welcome, Chris. We are honored to have you. 💪🔥

🔗 womeninfire.org