The 33rd annual Emergency Medical Services Week will be celebrated May 14-20.
The event brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of the medical “front line.”
National EMS Week will feature hundreds of activities that will be planned around this year’s theme, “EMS: Serving on Health Care’s Front Line,” which underscores the commitment and dedication of the 750,000 EMS providers who serve their communities.
“As this year’s theme emphasizes, the brave men and women who serve as EMS
providers are often first on the scene of a disaster, a motor vehicle crash
or other event that may place them in a hazardous environment,” said Dr.
Frederick Blum, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, one of the sponsors of national EMS Week. “It’s important that we take the time to honor these front line medical responders for often going above and beyond the call of duty to save lives, while risking their own.”
The weeklong series of events will include national and local activities to
honor 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.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,Health Resources and Services Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are also sponsoring the events.
“Southern Maine EMS encourages local services and communities to take time
during this week to honor their public safety leaders,” said Donnell
Carroll, executive director of Southern Maine EMS.
For addition information on how you can participate or nominate a local
provider for an EMS award, visit the Southern Maine EMS Web site at www.smems.org or call 741-2790.
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