A huge thank you to first responders

This week we celebrate the 46th annual National EMS Week – a time to unite and recognize EMS personnel and the selfless work they do every day to protect our communities.

It feels like a very apt time for EMS Week to fall on the calendar, as we applaud those first responders who are helping save lives during the current crisis.   

The COVID-19 pandemic has created disruption and uncertainty across the globe. As the virus continues to spread across the US, first responders face new threats on a daily basis.  

We have seen incredible courage and caring from first responders, risking – and even losing – their lives in the face of the pandemic. Nearly 500 members of the New York City Fire Department tested positive for COVID-19 during March, the first month of the outbreak in New York State.

EMS personnel have been pivotal in the fight against coronavirus worldwide, drawing widespread acclaim from citizens, governments, and media outlets across the globe.

Facing additional threats

While we may be living through the biggest health crisis in a century, for EMS personnel, COVID-19 is yet another threat to add to the pile of countless daily dangers.

It is vital that we continue to build a dialogue around the threats first responders face on a regular basis, even as they contend with the additional risks associated with COVID-19. Protecting people and the environment they live in is something Avient has always been passionate about. A few years ago, it inspired the launch of Armor NOW, an educational campaign aimed at building awareness around the emerging threats that first responders face on the job.

According to a 2019 Armor NOW survey, 84% of first responders believe body armor is necessary for their line of work, while 85% of respondents say they work for an organization that does not provide protection in the form of body armor.

It’s figures like these that emphasize the importance of Armor NOW, which provides training materials to help educate first responders about emerging threats so they can train for what’s possible not just what’s probable.  

This includes accredited coursework designed to inform first responders about the basics of body armor, as well as the types of equipment and technology available to help keep them safe.  

We want to thank all first responders who go above and beyond the call of duty to care for our communities, particularly during these troubled times. Do you have any stories of EMS courage you’d like to share? Please comment on the post; we’d love to hear them. 

For more information, visit www.armornow.com