Remembering: First Responders
Jul 01, 2021In the US, we just had our Memorial Day weekend. For many, this is the unofficial start of the summer season. People take the “long weekend” (Friday as well the Monday holiday) to travel, have family gatherings (e.g. a barbeque), or attend a sporting event (e.g. a baseball game). In perhaps a typically American way, the holiday serves as a sales theme for automobile dealers, furniture stores, and other businesses. While people appreciate such opportunities a holiday can afford, it is often noted that these tend to divert attention from the purpose of the holiday, which is to remember those who have died in the military service of their country. This very specific purpose is often muddled even by well-intentioned individuals, who believe Memorial Day is meant to honor military veterans and current members of the armed forces. (There are separate holidays for this. Veteran’s Day is on November 11, which coincides with the Armistice ending World War I and the resulting various national holidays around the world, while Armed Forces Day is in early May.) I know a number of veterans and current military members who find this disconcerting.
As important as it is to avoid conflating holidays, and thus perhaps devaluing a particular one, it is understandable that such events encourage a broader sense of remembrance. For example, many veterans (such as my own father) did not die while in military service, yet various organizations mark their graves with flags on Memorial Day. It is a nice touch, a sign of respect, and encourages one to remember and appreciate those who served, even if their service did not demand the ultimate sacrifice of them.
This Memorial Day I found myself thinking of those who have served their countries in other ways. More specifically, first responders came to mind. With the events of this past year, their service (and sacrifice) has garnered more attention. Of course, this has been due in no small part to the COVID pandemic, in which first responders have been on the proverbial “front line.” The Guardian, for example, attributed over 3,600 deaths among US healthcare workers to the virus over the course of the past year. Yet it has also affected the law enforcement and firefighting professions as well. Of the 96 deaths of firefighters reported in the US in 2020, over one-third were attributed to COVID. Moreover, we should not forget that other natural (as well as human-induced) events have taken their toll as well. The recent spate of wildfires in California has claimed the lives of several firefighters. Of course, many more perish in everyday housefires and like events.
Beyond the death toll, there are other prices first responders pay. The psychological stress many endure in responding to crises is daunting. Facing death, destruction of property, violence, deprivation, and other sufferings on a daily basis is bound to have an effect. A piece which CBI recently shared via LinkedIn noted that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is “common” among first responders, a state of affairs that needs to be addressed. It adds that first responders and military veterans share not only this, but also a sense of purpose and camaraderie in their respective communities; in sum, they have much in common.
Thus, it seems appropriate that in those times when we are called to remember those who give much in service to others, we should think of first responders. I should note that in the US, there is in fact a National First Responders Day, which is on 28 October every year. I should also note that I had to look that up, having never heard of it before I began writing this blog. (In my defense, it was established very recently in 2019.) Still, it is a start, a day dedicated to remembering the work of those in our field.
Bill Carey, “2020 On-Duty Firefighting Deaths in Detail,” FirefighterNation.com (4 Jan. 2021)
https://www.firefighternation.com/firerescue/2020-on-duty-firefighting-deaths-in-detail/
Danny Crichton, “The Human-Focused Startups of the Hellfire,” TechCrunch.com (9 May 2021)
“Lost on the Frontline,” The Guardian (April 2021)
