September 9 is Emergency Services Day or 999 Day.
The UK celebrates the national day each year on the same day to show its support for the people who work and volunteer within the emergency services including the NHS, police, fire, ambulance and search and rescue services.
First responders are also celebrated on the day.
The day aims to promote efficiency and educate the public about responsibly using the emergency services.
The commemoration also “aims to promote emergency services charities; and to highlight the many different career and volunteer roles in the emergency services.”
The day is backed by King Charles, prime minister Rishi Sunak and the Prince of Wales as well as the “Governments of the UK, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; and all emergency services.”
999 Day begins at 9am and flags are raised around the UK with a two minutes’ silence as the country remembers the members of the emergency services who have died in the line of duty.
It is for local authorities to arrange commemoration although not do. However, the Unitary Authority of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole do arrange a ceremony which takes place outside the Bournemouth Town Hall.
This year Wessex 4×4 Response were represented alongside the fire, police and ambulance services, the Coastguard, Coastwatch, RNLI, St John’s Ambulance and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
The ceremony was opened by the Chairman of BCP Council (Cllr Lesley Dedman), HM Lord Lieutenant of Dorset (Angus Campbell) thanked everyone present and included a prayer by Rev Canon Charles Stewart. The Emergency Services Day flag was then hoisted.
