1Designating September 27, 2013, as "First Responder Appreciation
2Day" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians have
4benefited from the courageous service of first responders across
5this Commonwealth; and

6WHEREAS, Our first responders, police, fire, emergency
7medical service and public health personnel, work selflessly on
8behalf of the people of this Commonwealth, regardless of the
9risk or hazard; and

10WHEREAS, First responders carry out the critical role of
11protecting and ensuring public safety in emergency situations;
12and

13WHEREAS, The men and women who bravely serve as first
14responders have found themselves on the front lines of homeland
15defense in the war against terrorism; and

16WHEREAS, First responders are called upon in the event of

1natural disasters, such as last year's Superstorm Sandy; and

2WHEREAS, Approximately 150,000 first responders perform these
3crucial services in this Commonwealth; and

4WHEREAS, Approximately 30,000 sworn police officers from
5State, city and county law enforcement agencies protect lives
6and property, detect and prevent crimes, uphold the law and
7ensure justice; and

8WHEREAS, Tens of thousands of firefighters, including
9approximately 70,000 volunteers and 10,000 career firefighters,
10provide fire suppression, emergency medical services, search and
11rescue, hazardous materials response, terrorism response and
12critical fire prevention and safety education; and

13WHEREAS, Approximately 50,000 emergency service professionals
14in this Commonwealth respond to and treat a variety of life-
15threatening emergencies, from cardiac and respiratory arrest to
16traumatic injuries; and

17WHEREAS, First responders make personal sacrifices to protect
18our communities, as witnessed in the aftermath of the terrorist
19attacks of September 11, 2001, twelve years ago and the natural
20destruction of Hurricanes Katrina, Irene and Sandy, along with
21Tropical Storm Lee, and as called for every day in cities and
22towns across this Commonwealth; and

23WHEREAS, Many law enforcement officers die in the line of
24duty in the United States each year, including four killed in
252011 and five in 2012 in Pennsylvania alone; and

26WHEREAS, Many firefighters are killed in the line of duty
27across the United States each year and thousands more are
28injured; and

29WHEREAS, Many medics are injured on the job, have been
30assaulted by patients or have been exposed to infectious

1diseases; and

2WHEREAS, Emergency medical service personnel in the United
3States have a fatality rate of more than twice the national
4average for all other workers; and

5WHEREAS, Thousands of first responders have made the ultimate
6sacrifice; and

7WHEREAS, Following the terrorist attacks of September 11,
82001, firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency
9medical service personnel were universally recognized for their
10sacrifices, and we remember them especially this year on the
1112th anniversary of this national tragedy; and

12WHEREAS, First responders should be honored each year as the
13tragic events of that day are remembered; and

14WHEREAS, These men and women, by their dedicated
15professionalism, have earned our gratitude and respect;
16therefore be it

17RESOLVED, That the Senate designate September 27, 2013, as
18"First Responder Appreciation Day" in Pennsylvania to celebrate
19the contributions and sacrifices made by all of this
20Commonwealth's first responders.