Emergency service workers and NHS staff are being honoured today as part of the UK’s Emergency Services Day, or 999 Day.
The day is a government-backed event which encourages people to pay tribute to the almost two million people who work and volunteer across the NHS and emergency services.
The day is marked with 999 Day flags being raised across the UK at 9am to mark the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month, followed by two minutes’ silence to remember the more than 7,500 members of the emergency services killed in the line of duty over the past 200 years.
Emergency services across the nation have this morning participated in the event to thank their colleagues for all they do.
This morning a small group of #TeamLAS and military partners gathered outside our headquarters to observe a two minute silence, joining the nation in a moment of reflection and remembrance on #999Day.
— London Ambulance Service (@Ldn_Ambulance) September 9, 2021
Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr Fenella Wrigley gave a short speech. ⬇
The day’s main event was due to take place in Belfast but due to the pandemic this had to be cancelled. Belfast will host the event in 2022, Wales in 2023, England in 2024, and Scotland in 2025.
Aside from showing appreciation, the day aims to educate the public about using emergency services responsibly, promotes emergency services charities, and highlights the many different career and volunteer roles in the emergency services.
Politicians have also taken the opportunity to thank emergency service personnel, including prime minister Boris Johnson, and first ministers of Scotland and Wales Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford.
On #999Day, we honour those who work & volunteer to keep us safe and well, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 9, 2021
In the last 18 months emergency services have faced unprecedented challenges.
I know I speak on behalf of the whole country when I say thank you, we are immensely proud.
On #999Day, First Minister @NicolaSturgeon thanks our NHS and emergency service workers for their bravery, compassion and dedication in keeping Scotland safe, even in the most difficult circumstances. pic.twitter.com/GVCfV6Lh2v
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) September 9, 2021
VIDEO: The @FMWales, @MarkDrakeford 🏴 praises emergency services. #999Day. pic.twitter.com/Q9KAmOZhrd
— Emergency Services Day 🇬🇧 #999Day (@999Day) September 9, 2021
Speaking about 999 Day, Johnson said: “It takes a very special kind of person to put your life on the line for a complete stranger. Yet that is what we see day in, day out from the remarkable men and women of our emergency services.
“All of us in this country owe each of you a debt of gratitude. So, it is only right that, on Emergency Services Day, we celebrate your work and, as a nation, say a huge ‘thank you’ for doing so much for so many.”
Emergency Services Day was founded by Tom Scholes-Fogg in 2016.
Scholes-Fogg said: “We all take the NHS and emergency services for granted. We know that when we really need help, it is there.
“Emergency Services Day is an opportunity for the country to say a huge heartfelt thank you to the 2 million people who put others before themselves.
“I encourage everybody to support our emergency services personnel all year round, not just on 999 Day.”
Here is a glimpse at some of the ways the day was marked across the nation:
We shine our blue light bright all year & we’re especially proud to be part of the blue light family this #999Day
— HM Coastguard (@HMCoastguard) September 9, 2021
A huge shout out to #999Coastguard, the entire #999Family & all those who support the Emergency Services - we're so thankful to all those who keep us safe always 💙 pic.twitter.com/8aLreWP7Ew
Most of our rescues begin with a lifesaver like you dialling 999. So today on #999Day, as well as our incredible volunteers and our friends in the emergency services, we’re paying tribute to you too. pic.twitter.com/ECYjCYWkFa
— RNLI (@RNLI) September 9, 2021
Every year, we come together with our colleagues in the Police, Fire & Rescue Service and NHS to celebrate #EmergencyServicesDay.
— Derbyshire Police (@DerbysPolice) September 9, 2021
We want to take this opportunity to thank all those that work/volunteer for the emergency services, who work tirelessly to keep us safe. #999Day pic.twitter.com/zKrnnErv4G
Today marks @999day.
— yourHeathrow (@yourHeathrow) September 9, 2021
We're celebrating the incredible Emergency Services teams around the country and those at #Heathrow who play such a vital role in making the airport safe.
Thank you for all the amazing work you do, not just today, but every day.#emergencyservicesday pic.twitter.com/hH8iFDsCNi
Today is #999Day. Please join us in thanking every single one of our incredible emergency services for all that they do. We are so proud of our #StJohnPeople and colleagues across the services, today and every day 💚 #999DayUK @999Day pic.twitter.com/7TJfOQagTn
— St John Ambulance (@stjohnambulance) September 9, 2021
As well as being #BackToSchool week for many, today is also @999Day, an annual event aiming to promote the work of the emergency services. To mark the day we'll be making an exciting announcement about our learning & discovery programme for 2021/22. Watch this space... #999Day pic.twitter.com/BTEHWCHP9N
— National Emergency Services Museum (@NESMUSEUM) September 9, 2021
On #999Day, we remember all those emergency services personnel killed in the line of duty in the last 200 years & the many more who have been injured or died as a result of their service. Thank you to all those who work & volunteer in the NHS & the emergency services. @999Day pic.twitter.com/grRofWBgO8
— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) September 9, 2021
Today we mark @999Day.
— Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (@fire_scot) September 9, 2021
Our Chief Officer Martin Blunden led our efforts to honour the extraordinary efforts of current emergency service staff and to remember all the brave men and women we have lost.
➡️ https://t.co/MZSi73P1iH pic.twitter.com/R0niKoUFk8
@NWAmbulance Today we celebrate and remember on #999day #National #emergencyservicesday members of the #EmergencyServices from the #frontline to support staff. Please show the Love for the #999family #Retweet #trend pic.twitter.com/MIGC6N2vQB
— Heart 💚 of EMT 🚑 🚑 🚑 (@Heart_Of_EMT) September 9, 2021
At 9am this morning we'll pay silent tribute to emergency services friends and colleagues who have died as a result of their duties. @Official999Day flags will fly outside all our stations #999Day pic.twitter.com/wCbYfgveRU
— West Midlands Fire Service (@WestMidsFire) September 9, 2021
On this day we would like to show support to our incredible emergency service personnel, past and present, who work and volunteer to keep us safe every day of the year.#999Day pic.twitter.com/vxCeAtcVFT
— Scottish MR (@ScottishMR) September 9, 2021
Today we remember more than 7,500 emergency service workers who have sadly lost their lives whilst on duty.
— Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (@StaffsFire) September 9, 2021
We held a two minutes’ silence at 9am and special @999Day flags are flying outside of our stations.
We are proud to be part of the emergency services family.#999Day pic.twitter.com/vYj7UuCysV
Today is #EmergencyServicesDay, and we want to say a massive thank you to the millions of people who work and volunteer in the emergency services across the country — including all our amazing NHS colleagues. 💚🚨🚑 #999Day pic.twitter.com/G71zBs3E0o
— NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) September 9, 2021
Today is #999Day and we want to say a huge thank you to all those who work or volunteer in the Police, Fire, Ambulance, NHS and Search & Rescue services.
— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) September 9, 2021
Thank you for all that you do to keep our communities safe 🚓🚒🚁🚑 pic.twitter.com/QDrLcjtBGm
Today is #999DAY! We want to say thank you to all our officers and staff, who work as One Team, and alongside other emergency services across #Merseyside to keep people safe.
— Merseyside Police (@MerseyPolice) September 9, 2021
Scroll down to read some of the thank you messages we have received from the public over the last year. pic.twitter.com/vKvAZNrzVP
Today is Emergency Services Day.
— British Transport Police (@BTP) September 9, 2021
To our officers and staff, past and present,
To our colleagues across the blue light family,
To everyone who has ever served for one of the emergency services,
And to those who continue to run towards danger each day.
We thank you.#999Day pic.twitter.com/xMRowQNdYq
Thank you, from all of us.
