Honoring Our First Responders
First responders risk their lives every day to help keep us safe. From the 9/11 tragedy to the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses, firefighters, police officers, doctors, and EMTs, are constantly putting themselves in harm’s way for their communities. And, with the COVID-19 virus running rampant throughout the country, our first responders are working harder than ever.
The Very First First Responders
Have you ever wondered about the history of first responders? Well, the first doctor ever recorded was Hippocrates, who lived from 460-370 BCE. Doctors practicing modern medicine as we know it today started helping their patients around the 18th century, just shortly after the Industrial Revolution.
And, while nursing dates back to 300 AD in the Roman Empire, modern nursing truly began in the 1850s with the very famous Florence Nightingale, who took care of injured soldiers in the Crimean War.
Emergency responders as a profession in the US began during the Civil War when medical officers examined soldiers to make sure they were fit to serve. The very first ambulances came about during the Civil War as well. In fact, during this time, ambulance teams were assigned to regiments to take care of any injured soldiers. The first recorded civilian ambulance was used in Cincinnati in 1865. And, New York City followed in suit with a fleet of ambulances accompanied by surgeons in 1869.
While policing began in Colonial America with volunteers engaging in a “night watch” of sorts to keep illegal activity at bay, the first publicly funded police force was established in Boston in 1838. The officers’ job was to protect property and ensure the safe transport of goods from Boston’s port.
So, now that you know a little more about the history of first responders, how can you honor them for working so hard? What can you do to show your appreciation for their selfless act of putting themselves on the line each day?
There are actually lots of great things you can do to honor your local first responders. Here are some awesome suggestions.
5 Tips For Honoring First Responders
1. Make a monetary donation.
If you have the extra funds to do so, donate to a local charity that supports your first responders. There are many different charities out there that support first responders, including:
- Heroes For Hope
- The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
- The Gary Sinise Foundation For First Responders
- The National Police Association
You can also make a monetary donation to a local nonprofit hospital to help support the medical staff working there. These extra funds will help pay for things like meals for the medical staff and even PPE materials, which due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals are currently in desperate need of.
Another way you can honor first responders is by donating to charities that aim to help their families. Tuesday’s Children is a great charity that was created to help support the families of those we lost in the 9/11 attacks. It has expanded from helping the families of 9/11 victims to supporting all families in the US who have been impacted by terrorism, military conflict, or mass violence.
2. Donate Personal Protective Equipment.
Speaking of PPE, you can show your appreciation for local first responders by donating protective equipment to them. This pandemic has caused a shortage of protective supplies. Hospitals, police stations, and fire stations could definitely use things like extra face masks, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and gloves. So, the next time you are at the store, and you see any of these items available, pick up some for your local first responders. And, if you have a talent for sewing, you can even make your local first responders some reusable masks.
3. Provide a free meal from a local restaurant.
Ordering takeout for your local fire station staff, emergency room workers, or police officers is a great way to show your appreciation for local first responders while supporting a local business. If you decide to do this, make sure you coordinate with the station or hospital first. With COVID-19 still going on, many hospitals and first responder stations are overwhelmed. The last thing you want to do is create more chaos for them. If coordinating a takeout order for a local first responder station or hospital proves to be too challenging due to all of the moving pieces, you can always provide them with gift card from local restaurants accompanied with a U.S. Flag Maker imprinted "Remember and Honor" stick flag. That way they can order meals at a time that’s best for them.
Another thing you can do is pick up a first responder’s tab. For instance, if you are in a drive-thru, and you notice a first responder vehicle behind you, pay for their order.
4. Say thank you.
Sometimes something very simple can go a long way. You can brighten a first responder’s day by just simply thanking them for their service. So, the next time you see a local first responder out and about, tell them, “thank you.”
5. Display a first responders thank you flag in your yard.
Displaying a first responder thank you flag in your yard, outside of your mailbox is a great and easy way to show your local first responders your gratitude for doing everything they can to help keep you and those in your community safe.
Our First Responder Flag Sale
Show your local first responders some love by displaying a flag thanking them for their service. We are currently having a great sale on first responder thank you flags. Click here to learn more.