National EMS Week is from May 21 to May 27. This is the 49th time that National EMS Week will be celebrated since President Gerald Ford authorized the week to “Celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation’s communities”. The theme of National EMS Week in 2023 is “Where Emergency Care Begins.” According to NAEMT.org, “EMS Week is a time to thank paramedics, EMTs, and the entire EMS workforce for their service and sacrifices. It’s also an opportunity to continue to raise public awareness about the critical role of EMS in the community.” NAEMT, meanwhile, partners with the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) to lead annual EMS Week activities each year. “Together, NAEMT and ACEP are working to ensure that the important contributions of EMS practitioners in safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of their communities are fully celebrated and recognized,” explains NAEMT’s website.
Knowing just how important EMS personnel are is one thing. You are very aware that in a medical emergency, being able to call EMS can make the difference, quite literally, between life and death. Caliber Public Safety provides software solutions used by personnel from EMS to law enforcement, helping responders to get where they need to be (and arming them with mission-critical context and information for when they get there). Computer-aided dispatch and records management systems are integral to the missions of EMS (and of law enforcement, of course). Hence why our company is named Caliber Public Safety – because the safety of the public is the mission of all these personnel.
Knowing how to celebrate EMS personnel is a little more difficult. Just how do we show our appreciation? NAEMT suggests that community organizations, schools, and individuals can write thank-you notes or drop off food items to local EMS agencies. Asking the personnel at those agencies what would most help them is a great way to know just how to bring them something they will appreciate.
Agencies employing and dispatching EMS personnel, meanwhile, often celebrate National EMS Week by doing something for their staff. This includes everything from hiring food trucks and hosting special “family fun” events to honoring outstanding EMS personnel with awards that showcase their hard work and dedication.
EMS Personnel are an integral part of the first responders and others who help keep our communities safe. During National EMS Week, take a moment to recognize, and be thankful for, all that these dedicated individuals do.
