- The Department of Homeland Security defines a "first responder" as a trained or certified individual who, upon arriving early to an incident or emergency, assumes immediate responsibility for the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence and environment.
- A general misconception is that the title of "first responder" refers only to emergency medical personnel. In truth, the "first responder" title refers to a variety of trained, emergency response providers who work within the public, private and government agencies of law enforcement, the fire department, school safety, public works, public health, mental and behavioral health services, hospitals, transportation, port and venue security, private EMS and ambulance services, Child Protective Services, hazardous materials and Poison Control, among others.
- With the moments following the onset of an emergency being the most crucial, the efforts of first responders can often have a significant impact on the final outcome. Medical first responders are trained to recognize serious injury, notify hospital staff or emergency personnel en route, and begin appropriate medical care. The actions of first responders can mean the difference between life and death.
- The function of a first responder is to stabilize a crisis situation in preparation for the arrival of emergency equipment and response teams. A first responder administers the appropriate support and aid indicative of the emergency and according to his or her area of specialized training.
- The expertise or training of a first responder depends upon the agency under which he is employed. Medical first responders must have a high school diploma, CPR certification, and a certificate of completion from a 40-hour specialized training curriculum at the first responder level. First responders to hazardous waste emergencies must be able to recognize the characteristics of certain chemicals and be well-trained in evacuation and decontamination procedures. First responders for public works must be trained to handle water-line breaks or electricity blackouts. All first responders are trained to immediately assess the level of emergency and assume control of the situation.
