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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 16, 2017 02:25 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tina M. Davis |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution Designating the Month of September 2017 as “Code Green: First Responders Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution that would designate the month of September 2017 as “Code Green: First Responder Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. First responders (law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics) routinely and courageously confront risk, face trauma, and experience loss on a daily basis. For many years, the prevailing culture among first responders was stoicism, basically, whatever one has gone through, deal with it quietly and deal with it alone. However, this approach often leads to severe depression and in some cases, suicide. Sadly, a few years ago, a first responder from my legislative district named George Redner II who was a firefighter and an emergency medical service professional (EMT) committed suicide. Thankfully, an organization known as “The Code Green Campaign” was founded in 2014 by a group of EMTs who witnessed the struggles of their fellow first responders. They decided it was time to bring attention to the psychological issues that first responders encounter through awareness and education. The Code Green Campaign’s goal was simple, it was remind first responders that it’s okay to hurt and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. This resolution would recognize the important work of the Code Green Campaign and would encourage all of us to remember that it takes a community to lookout for our men and women in uniform, whether they wear badges, bars, or stars. Sometimes, even heroes need help, so let’s raise awareness of the risk of suicide among first responders and highlight the resources that are available in the hope helping more of our brave emergency personnel. I hope you will join me in sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HR189