• Date: October 28th

• Purpose: To honor career and volunteer public safety personnel who step forward during emergencies.

• Who It Honors:
  • Firefighters
  • Police officers and law enforcement
  • Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics
  • 911 dispatchers and operators
  • Public works and search-and-rescue personnel

• Scale: Represents roughly 4.6 million career and volunteer first responders nationwide. 

• History: A U.S. Senate resolution designated it following a multi-year advocacy effort. 

• National Events: Features public recognitions like the Roll Call of Heroes ceremony hosted by the First Responders Children's Foundation. 

• Express Gratitude: Say thank you or send messages of appreciation to local stations and personnel.

• Support Wellness: Back mental health, Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), and family support programs tailored for public safety workers.

• Community Events: Attend local department open houses, memorial tributes, or civic recognitions.

First responders dedicate their lives to save lives. They are the people who run toward a crisis while the rest of the world flees. According to the Department of Homeland Security, 4.6 million career and volunteer first responders support the communities where they live. They are firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and 911 operators. In an emergency, they're the first on the scene. These dedicated professionals answer the call when a crisis arises, often putting their own lives on the line.

Serving as a national day of gratitude, we pay tribute to their endless hours and around-the-clock service provided to their communities. As one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, the day also pays tribute to the fallen first responders. According to the CDC, 97 firefighters and 155 police officers die each year in the line of duty. Additionally, their rate of occupational injury is higher than the national average. Often, the very people saving lives are our neighbors, friends, and family members. And their families know the price they pay for their dedication to the job.

And even though they are an integral part of our communities, their sacrifices go beyond the hours they work. They face high stress, often daily. The trauma they see wears on them both mentally and physically. Many experience post-traumatic stress. Long periods away from family add stress to their relationships, too.

National First Responders Day is also a call for action. First responders deserve our support. Through resources and awareness, first responders can live healthier, more productive lives and pass their knowledge and skills on to the next generation of first responders, too.

Join Los Angeles Police Department - https://www.joinlapd.com/

Join Los Angeles Fire Department - https://www.joinlafd.org/

Sylmar's LAPD Senior Lead Officers

• SLO Joseph Carter (818) 634-0610, [email protected]
• SLO Keith Crawford (818) 634-0619, [email protected]