first responder

American  

[furst ri-spon-der] / ˈfɜrst rɪˈspɒn dər /

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 British  

noun

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

---

Usage

What does first responder mean? A first responder is a real-life superhero. They're someone whose job is to respond immediately (first) when there is an accident or emergency. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, firefighters, and police officers are all considered first responders.How is first responder pronounced?[ furst ri-spon-der ]

Etymology

Origin of first responder

First recorded in 1970–75

Compare meaning

How does first-responder compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• first responder vs. EMT

Example Sentences

He is not the only California first responder to have been accused recently of engaging in insurance fraud.

From Los Angeles Times

A dozen awards are presented, including "Best First Responder Look" and the top category, "Best Background Actor Ensemble."

From Barron's

Community first responder Emily Hilton was assessing the man who had fallen on a busy main road in Cardiff last March.

From BBC

A Worthing first responder is backing a campaign to address gender inequality in life-saving treatment during cardiac arrests.

From BBC

Sally Holmes, a community first responder in Worthing, has delivered dozens of CPR training sessions this year.

From BBC