first responder

plural first responders

1. AustraliaCanadaUSA member of an emergency service who is first on the scene, or among those first on the scene, at an emergency.

   At the same time the hazard warning lights and, once the vehicle has come to a standstill, the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system is activated and the doors and windows are unlocked, to make access to the interior easier for any first responders.

   2021, “Mercedes-Benz self-driving car technology approved for use”, in Fleet news

   2 more examples

   Many survivors tried to describe what they felt, but words failed them. Hard to imagine, too, the emotions of the first responders – the ambulance crews, the medics and the police – faced by ghastly mayhem. It must have felt overwhelming, but they did their jobs and doubtless saved many lives.

   2017 August 20, “The Observer view on the attacks in Spain”, in The Observer, archived from the original on 28 Oct 2020

   In July, the New Taipei city government organized a large-scale drill with its disaster services and the Defense Ministry. Included for the first time was urban warfare, such as how first responders would react to an attack on a train station or a port.

   2022 September 4, Huizhong Wu, “Military reserves, civil defense worry Taiwan as China looms”, in AP News, archived from the original on 05 Sep 2022

   Synonyms: first-aider

2. AustraliaCanadaUSA member of an emergency service trained to provide emergency medical care.