SR0601 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0601 LRB097 17540 GRL 62744 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Municipalities continually struggle to maintain necessary funds for the compensation of full-time emergency responders; as such, municipalities turn to the aid of volunteers to supplement necessary services; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer emergency responders often go unappreciated for all of their long hours and incomprehensible skill sets; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer emergency responders endure hours of training in preparation of disasters and emergencies; and

WHEREAS, Emergency responders are required to become proficient in emergency medical training and numerous other skills; and

WHEREAS, These volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), divers, rescue squads, and response teams risk their lives daily to help the needs of their community; and

WHEREAS, These individuals respond to emergency calls at any moment, at any time of the day, often leaving their families and full-time jobs on a moment's notice; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters, EMTs, divers, rescue squads, and response teams risk their lives on emergency calls and are compensated by either small stipends or no pay at all; and

WHEREAS, The contributions and sacrifices of volunteer firefighters, EMTs, divers, rescue squads, and response teams and their families often go unrecognized; and

WHEREAS, There are over 30,000 people serving throughout the State of Illinois as volunteer firefighters and EMTs; and

WHEREAS, According the United States Fire Administration, 60% of firefighter deaths in the United States in 2011 have been volunteer servicers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor these volunteer emergency responders, who serve without compensation, and constantly risk their lives on a daily basis to retain the safety of their communities, by proclaiming the third Thursday in May of 2012 as Volunteer Emergency Responder Appreciation Day in the State of Illinois.