The USFA convened the symposium on "Health and Safety Issues of the Female Emergency Responder," in Rosslyn, Virginia, in October 1994. Twenty-seven participants representing a wide range of interest and involvement in fire and emergency response services were brought together to share their expertise and experiences in specific health and safety issues. The participants were charged with the task of narrowing the focus of health and safety concerns and developing strategies to address the issues of women in emergency response services today. They provided a "snap shot" of the situation for women in the response services and identified the critical issues to address in the immediate future. The report that follows is a result of their deliberations and experience.