Congress designated Oct. 28 as National First Responders Day in 2017. The day honors the paramedics, EMTs, firefighters, police officers and 911 operators who answer the call when a crisis arises, often putting their own lives on the line. Serving as a national day of gratitude, National First Responders Day pays tribute to their services to their communities and honors fallen first responders. National First Responders Day is also a call for action to support first responders.