10/28/2025
Honoring Our First Responders – Past and Present
The term “first responder” first appeared in the early 1970s, right here in the United States. One of the earliest known uses was published in The Boston Globe in 1973, describing new ambulance regulations in Massachusetts that required police officers and firefighters staffing “dual-purpose” vehicles to be trained to provide “first-responder care”—emergency care focused on stabilizing patients until more advanced help arrived.
Since that time, the role and recognition of first responders have grown tremendously. Today, under federal law (34 U.S. Code § 101), the term includes firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, EMTs, and others—paid or volunteer—who respond to fire, medical, hazardous material, and other life-threatening emergencies.
From those early beginnings to the highly skilled and coordinated emergency systems we rely on today, first responders continue to embody dedication, courage, and compassion.
🚒🚓🚑 Happy National First Responders Day!
Today, we at Mercy Medical Transportation, Inc. (Mercy Ambulance, Mariposa) proudly honor and thank every member of our emergency response family:
• CAL FIRE
• Mariposa County Fire Department
• Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office
• California Highway Patrol
• CAL FIRE Emergency Command Center Dispatchers
Together, we stand ready to protect, serve, and care for our neighbors, day and night, through every challenge.
Thank you for your service, strength, and commitment. ❤️💙🤍