From the Editors April 4, 2011 ISSUE

Provision for the giver

The Editors

As this editorial goes to press, one of the largest fire departments in the United States—Los Angeles County—carries forward the routine and never-ending work of educating the public in important fire-prevention measures. On top of that, first responders from the various stations in the department answer a host of emergencies that, day-in and day-out, occur without warning. On top of that, this same department recently sent a special search and rescue team to New Zealand to help with the aftermath of the tragic earthquake there. (Just over a year ago, the same department sent the same elite squad to help in Haiti, as that nation dug out from the devastation left by its earthquake.)

All of this is certainly good news for those desperately in need of good news, for those who are on the receiving end of emergency aid. But who cares for the caregivers? Who responds to the needs of the first responders?

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