The History of National First Responders Day: How a Brother’s Petition Became a National Day of Thanks

Every year on October 28, Americans pause to thank the people who run toward danger. The National First Responders Day history is short, but it started with a family’s grief and grew into a bipartisan act of Congress. In this post, we trace where the day came from, who made it happen, and why the working dogs at a first responder’s side belong in the story.

National First Responders Day History: A Brother’s Petition

The day traces back to Sean Collier. At the time, he was a 26-year-old MIT police officer. In 2013, the two men responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing killed him.

His brother, Andrew Collier, noticed something after Memorial Day that year. Americans rightly honor their veterans on that day. However, no matching day existed for police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. As a result, Andrew decided to change that.

First, he pushed for a national day of thanks. Next, he won media attention and the support of national organizations. Soon, hundreds of thousands of people signed petitions asking Congress to act.

How Congress Made October 28 Official

The effort reached the Senate in 2017. In that year, senators passed a resolution to commemorate October 28. Unfortunately, the measure stalled in the House.

Supporters kept going, though. Then, in 2019, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Tom Cotton, Ron Johnson, Gary Peters, Jacky Rosen, and James Lankford led a new bipartisan resolution. Consequently, the Senate passed it unanimously in June 2019. Meanwhile, Representatives Elijah Cummings and Rosa DeLauro sponsored the House version.

The resolution, S. Con. Res. 15, supported designating October 28 as “Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day.” Furthermore, it encouraged Americans to mark the day with ceremonies and activities. In addition, the text cited a Department of Homeland Security estimate of about 4.6 million career and volunteer first responders. Notably, that count spans law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency medical services, emergency management, and public works.

Who Counts as a First Responder?

The answer is broader than many people expect. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics come to mind first. However, emergency managers and public works crews also answer the call during floods, storms, and collapses.

Still, another group deserves a place on that list. K9 teams respond right alongside their human partners. For example, search dogs work rubble piles after disasters. In fact, their noses cover ground no human crew can. Our look at the K9s who searched the rubble after 9/11 shows how far that service goes. Meanwhile, our guide to how America’s search and rescue K9 teams train explains the work that happens long before a call comes in.

Why K9 Partners Belong in the Story

Unlike people, a K9 does not choose the risk. Their handlers send them into smoke, rubble, and the line of fire. In fact, these dogs face dangers most people never see, from gunfire to heatstroke to accidental drug exposure.

The right gear changes the outcome. For instance, a bullet and stab protective vest shields a dog on a warrant. A military-grade K9 first aid kit gives a handler the tools to stabilize an injured partner. Likewise, a Hot-N-Pop heat alarm system warns an officer before a hot patrol vehicle becomes deadly. We explain how it works in our post on how K9 heat alarm systems prevent heatstroke deaths. A K9 NARCAN kit can reverse an opioid overdose in the field.

How to Honor First Responders on October 28

Fortunately, you do not need a big event to take part. In fact, small gestures matter. Here are a few ways to mark the day:

• For example, thank a local police officer, firefighter, or paramedic in person.
• Likewise, drop off a note or a meal at your nearest station.
• Share a story about a first responder who helped your family.
• Remember the four-legged members of the team, too.

At Project Paws Alive, we protect the dogs who protect us. Every gift to PPAK9 helps put life-saving equipment on working K9s across the country. Alternatively, you can give through a donor-advised fund. So this October 28, thank the people who answer the call, and the dogs who go with them.

Sources

• Police1, “How National First Responders Day Came About”
• EMS1, “The Origin Story of National First Responders Day”
• U.S. Congress, S. Con. Res. 15 (116th Congress), “Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day”
• Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren, June 7, 2019 press release on the Senate resolution