At Sauna Shield, we’re on a mission to make saunas accessible to everyone in North America. But for firefighters and first responders, a sauna isn’t just a luxury— it’s a necessity. Across the country, fire departments are recognizing this and are now installing infrared and traditional saunas as essential gear, right alongside masks, helmets, radios, and protective gear.
The Health Risks on the Front Lines
The dangers of firefighting go beyond the immediate risks of the job. Every call is an inherent health hazard with the toxic fumes and residue spewing in the air. Occupational cancer is responsible for the deaths of 60% of career firefighters which has become a very unfortunate norm. Why? Modern building materials are full of chemicals that release over 600 toxins and carcinogens when they burn. Research shows that the body’s absorption of these harmful substances shoots up by 400% with just a 5-degree increase in temperature. This means that during a fire, when the body is most vulnerable, the absorption of toxins is taken in at an alarming rate. Over time, this toxic buildup and literal sludge can lead to serious health issues, including cancer, sarcoidosis (a disease affecting the lymph nodes), and respiratory problems among a few other common issues.
While the body does its best to eliminate toxins naturally, sweating is one of the most effective ways to expel heavy metals and other harmful substances from the body. This is where saunas and heat therapy come in.
The Power of Infrared Saunas
After the September 11th attacks, over 500 first responders and rescue workers, (mostly firefighters) participated in a three-year sauna detox program. Before starting the program, these participants averaged two missed workdays and four days with limited activity per month. More than half were taking pulmonary medications, and over 80% were on other medications for skin, emotional, cognitive, and musculoskeletal issues. After just 30 days of sauna sessions, their situation improved dramatically—missed workdays dropped to just 0.2 per month, with over 85% of participants stopping the use of medications altogether, and 73% were able to discontinue pulmonary medications they had been regularly consuming. They also experienced significant improvements in thyroid function, balance, reaction time, and cognitive ability among a few other tangible cognitive functions.
These impressive results came from using traditional saunas, often in sessions lasting 1 hour. Infrared saunas, however, are even more effective at removing toxins and require much shorter sessions. With regular use of infrared saunas specifically, you’ll feel better overall and according to some users, even reduce the lingering smell of smoke on your body which is a marvel in of itself.
Is a Sauna Really a Luxury Item?
Not according to those who need regular detoxification.
Assistant Chief Jermaine Hill of the Forest Park Fire Department expressed the importance of saunas in an interview with WLWT5: “For us, that’s a small price to pay for potentially saving someone’s life. The benefit tremendously outweighs the risk. It’s like, why wouldn’t we take an extra step to ensure our firefighters don’t get cancer?”
Similarly, Madison Fire Chief Steve Davis told NBC15, “If we don’t invest in this technology, we feel like we’re leaving one of the cards out of the deck.”
The Ideal Solution for Your Firehouse
Sauna therapy has been proven to assist in detoxification and promote longevity. Since 9/11, many fire departments across the U.S. have installed infrared saunas to protect their teams. At Sauna Shield, we believe our saunas are a perfect fit for your firehouse. Our 1-2 person infrared saunas are the favorited compact models because of the easy assembly and maintenance, and run on standard 15V or 20V outlets. They’re safe, efficient, and require no extra construction, plumbing, or complicated wiring. The beauty of the compact infrared saunas is that they can be placed anywhere in the station or home using a 120v plug. You can set them up on any surface, from carpet to concrete.
The infrared saunas also include near-zero EMF levels. Unlike most resellers and big box store models, our infrared panels have been tested and show nearly 0.2 mG of EMF as close as 2" from the panels. There are studies that show most generic infrared saunas have lower cost wood and paneling that emit nearly 33 mG of EMF inside the room - an alarming statistic for those seeking detoxification and heat therapy.
Sauna Shield offers generous discounts to firefighters and first responders, and we’d be honored to help bring sauna therapy to your firehouse or home for you and your family to experience. Our commitment to service is reflected in our positive feedback from our customers in the public and private sectors.
Take a look at our website, and when you’re ready, give us a call. We offer a special discount program for first responders through work benefits, whether you’re looking to install a sauna in your home, condo, or apartment. We’re also eager to work with your union, department, or municipality to bring a sauna to your station. Let’s work together to protect your health on and off the front lines and protect your health now and many years down the road.