October 28th is National First Responders Day #NationalFirstRespondersDay for parents #Homeschooling there children you could create a lesson plan about First Responders. Then take a Field Trip to meet a First Responder in person.
National First Responders Day on October 28 recognizes the heroic men and women who make it their business to take immediate action when disaster strikes. If your not sure what a first responder does? Just think about 9/11 for a moment.
Firefighters, police, paramedics, and more all rushing into Lower Manhattan. Whether you’ve had your own emergency or not, it’s not hard to understand and appreciate the dangerous and difficult work First Responders do.
Congress designated October 28th as National First Responders Day in 2017. This resolution honors the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and all those who are first on the scene in stressful situations. Notably, the family of Sean Collier, a police officer ambushed and murdered during events related to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, supported the resolution.
A 1966 federal study called Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society named accidental injuries as the “leading cause of death in the first half of life’s span.”
Further, the report showed that vehicle accidents during 1965 alone killed more Americans than were lost in the Korean War.
The report also stated that seriously wounded citizens would fare better in a war zone than on the average city street. The report also identified a lack of regulation or standards for ambulance operations or provider training.
The authors made several recommendations for both managing and preventing accidental injuries, including the standardization of emergency training for “rescue squad personnel, policemen, firemen and ambulance attendants.” This standardization led to the first nationally recognized curriculum for EMTs (emergency medical technicians).
Professional training today can take anywhere from one to three years. Candidates learn life support techniques in first-response situations, including CPR, tourniquet application, and treatment of wounds. Paramedics deliver more advanced procedures and therefore require more extensive education and training.
How to Observe National First Responders Day
- Whether it’s getting your family to write personalized thank you cards or baking some cookies for local firefighters, there are many ways to share your gratitude and this includes thanking any fireman, or policeman while out and about.
- Taje the opportunity today to esearch how to help finance equipment and resources for first responders. Help those who dare to risk it all.
- Maybe you’re looking to donate your own time and support. Don’t feel the need to be a hero. Just help when you can. Take a CPR course if possible.
First Responders By The Numbers
- Did you know one hundred firefighters die in the line of duty each year?
- ”9-1-1. What’s your emergency?”An estimated 240 million 9-1-1 calls are made in the U.S. per year.
- A fire department responds to a fire every 24 seconds.
- Emergency Medical Services takes care of 22 million patients a year.
Why National First Responders Day is Important
- First responders face high risks virtually every time they step out onto the front lines. A first responder is quite likely America’s most dangerous career.
- National First Responders Day is a day for them to bask in their heroism. First responders put other lives ahead of their own and on National First Responders Day they get to share joy with teammates and take a moment to feel appreciated.
- There’s not much we can do to pay back these men and women who risk it all for us nor do they expect it. Still, honoring them on National First Responders Day is an important gesture.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates