This is EMS week

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Office of Emergency Medical Services is celebrating the 50th anniversary of National EMS Week, May 19 to 25, 2024. ADPH said in a statement that this is a time to honor the entire EMS profession and its importance in protecting the safety and health of Alabamians.

EMS professionals serve in a broad range of roles, from providing highly skilled care on scene and in an ambulance to serving as educators, to practicing community paramedicine, to conducting research.

Lives literally hand in the balance when EMS goes on a call. How long it takes for EMS workers to reach the scene of a medical emergency or accident, the level of care performed when they get there, and the amount of time that it takes for EMS workers to get the sick or injured person to a hospital often influences the eventual outcome of the patient.

EMS is a vital component of Alabama's healthcare system. The dedication and work of EMS professionals save lives every day, by answering calls for persons suffering a medical emergency or responding to traumatic injuries such as a fall or a motor vehicle collision.

ADPH said that this year's theme is "Honoring Our Past. Forging Our Future." This theme reminds the public to acknowledge both the foundational work of EMS while also striving to build and lead a future for the next generation of EMS professionals to serve their communities.

The needs of children are different from the needs of adults in medical emergencies and EMS workers have to be prepared for every patient from infants to 100 year olds.

National Emergency Medical Services for Children Day is a day in EMS Week which recognizes prehospital providers and the critical impact they make on the lives of children throughout the state. The purpose of this annual observance is to increase awareness of the need to improve and expand specialized care for children in the prehospital and acute care settings.

https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/ems/index.html