National EMS Week features hundreds of grassroots activities coast-to-coast tthat are planned around this year’s theme, “Extraordinary People, Extraordinary Service,” which exemplifies the excellent services provided every day, under any circumstances by the 750,000 EMS providers who serve their communities.
“As this year’s theme emphasizes, EMS providers are dedicated to saving lives, even putting their own lives on hold as they respond to medical emergencies,” said Dr. Brian Keaton, president of ACEP. “They do this every day without special recognition, which is why we are recognizing EMS providers this year as extraordinary.”
The week-long series of events includes national and local activities to honor EMS providers (paramedics, emergency medical technicians, first responders, fire fighters and police), and to raise public awareness about health and safety issues, including how to prevent injuries and what to do in a medical emergency.
Special Observances
May 23 – Annual Emergency Medical Services for Children Day. This day focuses on drawing national attention to the essential need for specialized emergency care for children to ensure that every child in the nation receives the highest quality emergency care possible – from primary prevention to acute care and rehabilitation.
May 25-26 – National EMS Memorial Service and Annual National Moment of Silence. The National EMS Memorial Service in Roanoke, Va., organizes this national event to honor and remember the nation’s EMS providers who have made the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives in the line of duty. All EMS and communications agencies participating observe 60 seconds of radio silence at 8 p.m.