Governor Spanberger has proclaimed October 28 as National First Responders’ Day in Virginia. I want to take a moment to recognize the people who show up when Virginians need help most, and the VDH colleagues who support them.
Virginia has 43,689 certified emergency medical service (EMS) providers. They include emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, and more than 9,400 paramedics. They are backed by 237 operational medical directors and 928 EMS educators. They serve through 408 EMS agencies, and nearly three-quarters of those agencies rely in whole or in part on volunteers. From January through September of this year, they answered more than 1.4 million calls for service.
Behind every one of those calls is a person having what may be the worst day of their life. First responders meet that moment with skill and with dignity. Communities trust them to arrive, to listen, and to care for whoever is in front of them.
That trust depends on a system that works. Our Office of Emergency Medical Services certifies and educates providers, licenses and inspects agencies, coordinates trauma, stroke, and cardiac care systems, and helps agencies fund equipment through the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund. The team also listens to providers about the toll this work takes, and it backs that up with mental health and resiliency resources, including Critical Incident Stress Management support.
If you’re able, thank a first responder today. And if you work alongside them, thank yourself too. You help make sure that when someone calls for help, the right person shows up ready.