first responder

[ furst ri-spon-der ]

noun

1. a person who is certified to provide medical care in emergencies before more highly trained medical personnel arrive on the scene:

   a firefighter trained as a first responder.

first responder

noun

1. a person who is trained to provide basic life support in a medical emergency

Word History and Origins

Origin of first responder¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

The Onion’s bid was backed by the families of eight victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre and a first responder.

From Los Angeles Times

Secret Service spokesperson, who acknowledged the "critical need" for a mechanism to reimburse cities for public safety costs and first responder overtime pay.

From Salon

Despite never having seen an episode of “9-1-1” prior to its Season 8 premiere, the first responder procedural shot to the top of my must-watch list after seeing its “Bee-nado” promo on TV.

From Los Angeles Times

Harrell was the initial first responder to arrive at the scene, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

From Los Angeles Times

Walz is not so much a creature of law and policy as a first responder.

From Slate