First recognized in Ontario in 2013, First Responders Day, celebrated all over the province, is a chance to meet those ‘on the job’ in the community, and learn more about the critical work they do every day.
Sue Tiffin, community safety and wellbeing plan coordinator for the County of Haliburton, worked with the EMS, OPP, and fire to organize the day on April 1.
She said, “it is a chance to remember that they are out there, and an opportunity for people to see what it is like in the back of an ambulance so not to be scared if ever they need the service.”
An all-ages event, children got to climb all over fire engines while adults such as Scott Boesveld – who was with his wife and four children – checked out an ambulance. “It is really cool, I liked to see them not in an emergency.”
The first responders were having just as much fun. Jarrod Lawrance, who just completed his training as a volunteer firefighter said, “it is great to see the kids having fun and getting to meet some people from the community at an event like this.”
Tiffin believes it is important for the community to get together and learn what can be done to be pro-active and how to put in place preventative measures before a crisis happens. “It is a chance for the first responders to share their knowledge and experience with the community, and for people to get out and thank them for the work they do.”
