Medic, paramedic, firefighter, LEO, EMT, lifeguard? Anyone else? Would you consider private security guard a first responder?

I wouldn't consider a rent a cop or lifeguard even though they might be the first to show up in an emergency. So might a private citizen if they happened to be close by.
Police, Fire Dept. or EMS.

I look at it two ways

Operational First Responders
Those that are tasked by occupation to be first on the scene with training, experience and equipment to mitigate an incident. Fire Fighters, Medics/EMT/ParaMedics, LEO, etc.

Practical First Responders:
Those that arrive on a scene with training, experience, equipment/limited equipment/no equipment to render aid
Red Cross Certified people, Security Guards, Military/former military, skilled bystanders

Example
I haven't been a Fire FIghter/Medic in a number of years, but I keep a trauma kit in my car and know how to mitigate a variety of incidents. If I arrive on an accident scene, call dispatch, coordinate traffic control and treat patients I am the first responder.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
I wouldn't consider a rent a cop or lifeguard even though they might be the first to show up in an emergency. So might a private citizen if they happened to be close by.
Police, Fire Dept. or EMS.

The conventional definition of a first responder is meant for civil authorities such as police or fireman or others that are trained to go into harms way.

A first responder, IMO, is someone who will go into harms way in order to save another. A lifeguard into an undertow, a security guard who tries to stop a robbery, a fireman, policeman, or private citizen.

The "first responder" to my motorcycle accident in 1989 was a young man in a white T-shirt who stopped his car near where I lay and came over to ask some questions and administer a few quick extremity tests. When he heard the approach of the ambulance, he said I'd be OK and returned to his car and drove off. I'd love to know who he was so I could thank him for stopping.

However, I think most people would probably say the term "First Responder" would be a LEO, EMT, Fireman, etc.--someone trained and paid to do that work.

flashguy

I'd add search & rescue people to first responders. Some are unpaid volunteers.

Oil & gas has a bunch of first responder employees and contractors for spill and fire response. For example, I'm ICS 400 qualified. The industry also provides first response during major widespread disasters like the April and May floods in SE Texas and Louisiana in 2016. They rescued dozens and dozens of people trapped by floods.

Here in GA, a wrecker company is given that status

I would consider a first responder as someone who has enough sense to know when a scene is secure and when one is not, preventing more patients from arriving at the scene.

Having been in law enforcement and ems, IMO, anyone who begins to mitigate a situation. Just reporting doesn't count.

I've been a pro ski patroller for 35 years but since my response area is narrowly defined, don't feel I fit the overall definition.

The term is not what we consider, think, or feel. It's defined by the feds.

Homeland Security Presidential Directive, HSPD-8[4] reads:

The term "first responder" refers to those individuals who in the early stages of an incident are responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence, and the environment, including emergency response providers as defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. § 101), as well as emergency management, public health, clinical care, public works, and other skilled support personnel (such as equipment operators) that provide immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations.

To whom the situation affects.

That is the first responder.

Everyone else is a second responder.

So, each person must become subconsiously aware that he or she may well be on their own for the duration, and train, prepare and be mindfuil of that.

"YES SIR, DRILL SGT!"

And no denigration to those formerly known as first responders.

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To whom the situation affects.

So, lawyers, right?

I have been a member of the National Ski Patrol for many years (29) serving the entire time at my local ski area, and consider all (credentialed) ski patrollers to be 'First Responders' in assisting those that are injured and/or in some sort of medical distress (i.e., hypothermia, frostbite, heart attack, complications from diabetes), etc.
__________

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Medic, paramedic, firefighter, LEO, EMT, lifeguard? Anyone else? Would you consider private security guard a first responder?

ME.

If you are familiar with how the system "OEM" works. It depends on the situation. It can be police, fire, first aide, water/sewer utility etc. Training is a must as there are different areas that need attention. Consider a hurricane or tornado where infrastructure is affected. While the police may first respond, they would turn over their authority of handling a repair to the "specialist" that knows what to do but still keep their perimeter control. There is an established chain of command and corresponding qualifications in order to be in the chain of command.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Medic, paramedic, firefighter, LEO, EMT, lifeguard? Anyone else? Would you consider private security guard a first responder?

ME.

Wouldn't the Medical Examiner be the last responder?

It depends for me on the situation/what is the context of the discussion...

Logically, the first responder is the person/thing that is the first to start to respond to an incident, so it can be anyone. I am pretty sure there is a quote The first responder is you, when dealing with incidents, ala the police are minutes away when seconds count.

Practically, for me, a first responder is someone who is paid, and required to, render aid / professional service. IE Police, EMS, Firefighters.

I won't mention my occupation, many of you know it.

I don't consider myself a first responder, but I have been first person on scene. I've rendered first aid, called cops/fire/ems. Helped senior citizens, young kids, and dogs find their way home. I've helped apprehend criminals, and used a baseball bat on a dog mauling a college aged girl. Called the gas company when I smelled gas, and let homeowners know they have a broken water line flooding their house.

No, I don't get paid to do any of this, but I think any person with any ounce of morals or ethics would do likewise.

If they kick in my door, me...