National First Responders Day

Today, October 28, 2024, we celebrate first responders. The above flag includes the colors attached to the various service providers. Some banners also include an orange stripe for Search & Rescue. The intent of this day is to honor the brave and selfless professionals who put their lives on the line to serve, protect, and rescue citizens in desperate emergencies. They run directly toward danger.

Recognition of the extent of morbidity and mortality from accidents began in 1966 with the federal study Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society. This report showed accidental injuries were the “leading cause of death in the first half of life’s span.” Finally, in 2017, Congress passed the resolution to establish National First Responders Day.

Emergency Dispatchers are the critical link between callers in distress and emergency response teams. They staff 911 phone lines and gather key information to connect the appropriate police, fire, and/or EMS and direct them to the scene. They must remain calm under pressure to assist the endangered caller or their proxy until help arrives.

We have come a long way from the days of bucket brigades. There are now over 300,000 professional firefighters in the US. Firefighters may begin as volunteer apprentices but must go on to obtain a fire science degree. They wear heavy protective gear and work in hazardous environments. The job has risks of burns, inhalation injuries, explosions, or being trapped in a fire or structure collapse. In addition, there are the dangers of chemical toxicity and even increased cancer potential.

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) are well-trained individuals who put their lives on the line daily. They can be shot, assaulted, or suffer blunt force trauma from vehicles or other objects. The outcome can be death or disability. In addition, with the rise of protests, they encounter belligerent, disrespectful people while they work to protect citizens and property.

Corrections Officers attend to the detainment of individuals. They may work at the local, state, or federal level. They are responsible for the care, custody, and control of inmates. This is another dangerous job. Prisoners can fashion deadly weapons and/or otherwise attack the guards.

An important outcome in the 1970s was the recommendation to standardize emergency training. Formal Emergency Medical Technicians-Paramedics (EMT-P) curricula were developed that received national accreditation.

Prehospital Trauma Life Support for First Responders (PHTLS-FR) is training for EMR, firefighters, rescue personnel, and law enforcement officers to provide first-line treatment directly at an accident scene. Medics also learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to deal with other medical emergencies.

Depending on the severity of the civil emergency or disaster, the military, usually the National Guard (NG), may be called upon to supplement and enforce the response. Many state NGs responded to Hurricane Helene’s devastation.

Search and rescue providers and their canines are invaluable in areas of vast destruction. They help locate missing individuals and assist with their extrication from perilous sites.

Are you or one of your loved ones a first responder? If so, thank you for your service. Communities appreciate your commitment and dedication. Many businesses offer free meals and other discounts.

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