Ep. 57: An Open Letter and Call-to-Action to Emergency First Responders
PLANTSTRONG Podcast
Rip Esselstyn
4.8 • 2.4K Ratings
🗓️ 11 September 2020
⏱️ 35 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today is 9/11, a day that none of us will forget. As we wind down Season Two of The Plant-Strong podcast, which is dedicated to those with the heart of a hero, we want to honor those who serve on the front lines when we call for help. To commemorate this special day, I want to share an open letter to first responders.
We all remember where we were that day when time stood still and the events that transpired across the United States imprinted on each and every one of us. I remember like it was yesterday, as I'm sure you all do. On this day every year, we think of you, emergency first-responders, and the sacrifice you make for others.
Lately, with the endless firefighting in California and Oregon, first responders are being put to the test once again and I want to remind everyone that the #1 cause of death for in-the-line-of duty deaths among firefighters is heart disease...not fires or smoke inhalation, not accidents…...heart attacks. Think about that. In a job that faces potential risk and personal harm every time a call comes in, it’s the effects of the standard American Diet that are more dangerous to these everyday heroes.
It’s our mission at Plant-Strong to educate and empower people to take back their health, to get in the driver seat and be their own hero. We want everyone to experience the benefits of living plant-strong and to learn that you do NOT have to accept type II diabetes, or high blood pressure, or high cholesterol as your fate. You can turn it around.
We want this for everyone, but I especially want this for firefighters and emergency first-responders.
So my letter to all of you is to be brave, take the plunge, and don’t wait until you are having chest pains to see the light. Make the change to put YOURSELF FIRST - you will be able to rescue so many more people when your own internal engine is in order.
We honor you today and always. We will never forget.
Peace, Engine 2, Keep it Plant-Strong.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Today I want to share in open letter that I've written to first responders across the globe. |
| 0:18.7 | As we all know today is September 11th, a day that none of us will forget. |
| 0:25.9 | And as we wind down season two of the plant's strong podcast, which is dedicated to those |
| 0:31.0 | with the heart of a hero, it just makes sense to honor all of you, emergency first responders, |
| 0:40.2 | who serve on the front lines whenever any of us call for help. |
| 0:46.8 | And I'm sure that each and every one of us remembers exactly where we were on 9-11. |
| 0:54.1 | I was at Fire Station 1 and we were doing a big station cleanup when we were all called to the kitchen. |
| 1:04.7 | And on the kitchen TV, we watched an absolute dismay and horror as the second airplane hit the south tower |
| 1:15.5 | about 10-15 minutes after the American Airlines flight hit the first tower. |
| 1:24.9 | And then we huddled around that TV and watched in disbelief as over the course of the next hour and a half. |
| 1:36.9 | Both the towers crumbled and fell to the ground. And little did we know that 343 firefighters were |
| 1:46.0 | going to lose their lives, 72 police officers and well over 2,500 civilians. |
| 1:54.7 | And I remember walking around for the next several weeks in a state of numbness. |
| 2:04.6 | And not in any way shape or form understanding exactly what had happened. |
| 2:14.7 | But on this day, every year, we want to think of you, you first responders, |
| 2:24.4 | and to sacrifice that you make for others. And lately, with what's going on right now in California |
| 2:32.2 | with the wildland fires, it's a testament to how every day you guys and you gals |
| 2:42.4 | are always put to the test. And you never know what's around the corner. |
| 2:49.2 | Looking ahead for a second, next week, you're going to hear a very candid conversation that I had with |
| 2:56.4 | three of New York City's bravest firefighters as we close out the season. And you're going to learn |
| 3:07.1 | from these everyday heroes who are stepping out of the current paleo and keto culture |
| 3:17.3 | and making waves by doing something as simple and yet profound as deciding to put plants |
... |
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