While we sleep, police officers guard our homes.

While we work, firefighters stand ready to save our houses and businesses.

While we relax, emergency medical personnel are on call to help anyone who is injured.

First responders, whether they are paid or volunteer, often are taken for granted. They become part of the background that is our daily lives.

When there is an emergency, though, first responders take center stage.

This annual Progress publication takes a look at emergency personnel and agencies by detailing how they serve the county’s 180,000 residents. Included are:

- The five police officers and firefighters who have died in the line of duty since 1980.

- How emergency personnel train.

- The quick action by medical helicopters to fly severely injured victims to hospitals.

- The unique training facility for firefighters at the Butler County Community College.

- The variety of duties carried out by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department.

- The depths the dive team of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department goes to rescue people in dangerous waters.

- How the 28 Butler County 911 dispatchers will handle the estimated 122,000 calls to the center this year.

- How much it costs to equip a police car, fire truck and ambulance.

This publication also lists nearly all of the police, fire and ambulance departments in the county, including officers, annual budget, equipment and members of those departments.

Police, fire and ambulance departments are designated by patches their members wear.A number of the departments sent their patches to the Butler Eagle for inclusion in this section. These unique symbols are reminders of the hundreds of men and women who serve the public in emergency situations and are ready when duty calls.