Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative

HEALTH AND FITNESS-

🚨Making Health and Fitness a top priority for 2026💪Stay tuned!!

Today, we pause to remember the 49 lives lost in the tragic events of June 12, 2016. Their memories continue to live on in the hearts of their families, friends, survivors, first responders, and communities across the nation.

As we mark this solemn anniversary, we honor those who were taken too soon and recognize the strength and resilience shown by all who were affected. We remember the courage displayed that night, the lives forever changed, and the enduring bonds that emerged in the face of unimaginable loss.

May we continue to stand against hate, embrace compassion, and support one another with kindness and understanding. The legacy of the 49 Angels reminds us of the importance of love, acceptance, and unity within our communities.

Today and always, we remember. We honor. We will never forget.

Awesome 👏 way to go Pete Patellis! Strong work by you and the FFSHC K-9 Crisis Response Team!

Brevard County Fire Rescue Firefighter Lt. Pete Patellis, Therapy Dog Recognized for Supporting First Responders Across Florida. SEE MORE: https://spacecoastdaily.com/2026/06/brevard-county-firefighter-lt-pete-patellis-therapy-dog-recognized-for-supporting-first-responders-across-florida/

Next Week is Safety Stand Down! Check out this FREE training at Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

🚨2026 Mindset Matters 🚨

🚨SAFETY ALERT 🚨

Safety Alert!

👇

𝐅𝐃𝐒𝐎𝐀 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 - 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐒𝐎 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

A dedicated Incident Safety Officer is one of the most critical positions on today's fireground. When properly trained, integrated into the Incident Command System, and working in a collaborative relationship with the Incident Commander, the ISO becomes a force multiplier for both safety and operational success.

The Incident Safety Officer actively contributes to the development, implementation, and continuous evaluation of the Incident Action Plan (IAP), providing real-time situational awareness, risk assessments, and operational feedback that help achieve tactical objectives while balancing operational effectiveness with firefighter safety (Risk vs Benefit).
As incidents grow in size and/or complexity, so should the safety organization. Expanding the safety function through the addition of qualified Assistant Safety Officers (A*O) enhances comprehensive hazard identification, risk management, and responder accountability across the incident.

➡️Read Full Statement Here: https://fdsoa.org/who-we-are/position-statement/

𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏—𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Handler Spotlight: Lieutenant/Paramedic Pete Patellis & K9 Apollo 🐾

FFSHC is proud to recognize Lieutenant/Paramedic Pete Patellis of Brevard County Fire Rescue, a dedicated professional with 24 years of service to BCFR and a member of the FFSHC Crisis Response K9 Team.

Pete and his K9 partner, Apollo, represent the compassion, professionalism, and commitment required to support first responders within the crisis response and peer support environment. Since beginning service in 2023, Apollo has supported firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, and other first responders through peer support activations, critical incidents, and statewide disaster deployments.

In addition to serving as a Crisis Response K9 handler, Pete serves as an FFSHC K9 Evaluator, helping assess and develop future Crisis Response K9 teams throughout Florida.

Through training, certification, and operational experience, Pete and Apollo have developed into a trusted Crisis Response K9 Team dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellness of first responders.

Together, they have achieved:

• FFSHC Crisis Response K9
• Alliance of Therapy Dogs – Registered Therapy Dog
• AKC Therapy Dog
• AKC STAR Puppy
• AKC Canine Good Citizen

Pete's certifications and training include:

• FFSHC K9 Evaluator
• UCF RESTORES R.E.A.C.T. Peer Support
• IAFF Peer Support
• IAFF Resiliency Training
• Boulder Crest Struggle Well
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Psychological First Aid
• SAMHSA Behavioral Health for Fire & EMS Personnel
• K9 First Aid & CPR
• Fire Officer II
• Fire Instructor I
• ICS 100, 200, 300, 700, 800

Their deployment history includes responses to:

• Hurricane Helene
• Hurricane Milton
• IAFF Peer Support deployments supporting responders in Orlando, City of Seminole, and Lake County, Florida
• Local critical incident and peer support activations

Beyond deployments, Pete and Apollo actively support first responder wellness initiatives, peer support programs, department outreach events, and responder recovery efforts throughout the state. Pete also serves as an FFSHC K9 Evaluator and K9 Team Social Media Lead, helping develop future Crisis Response K9 teams while highlighting the important work being performed by handlers and K9s across Florida.

This level of service is built through dedication, training, and an unwavering commitment to those we serve.

Thank you, Pete and Apollo, for your service to the first responder community.

🚒💪 Taking care of yourself is part of staying ready for the next call.

comes with higher risks, including:

🔥 Heart disease
🧠 Behavioral health challenges
🧬 Cancer linked to toxic exposure
🛏️ Sleep disruption from shift work

Here are some steps you can take for to keep you active and healthy.

✔️ Schedule a full physical
✔️ Talk with your doctor about occupational risks
✔️ Put your mental health first. If you need support, you’re not alone.
✔️ Strengthen decon and hygiene practices
✔️ Support healthier habits within your crew

📷 Csmeadphotography

Such an important question for FF Safety is being researched and providing answers about exposure.

Sick firehouses: How deteriorating stations are putting fire fighters’ health at risk - IAFF Water stains spread across ceilings. Mold creeping through walls. Sewage leaks. Toxic fumes drifting into living quarters.