EMS Week

In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation's communities. National Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's frontline. EMS Week is presented by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in partnership with the National Associations of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). Together, NAEMT and ACEP lead annual EMS Week activities. These organizations 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.

EMS Week 2024

The 2024 EMS week is from May 19 through May 25, 2024.  It is the 50th anniversary of EMS week and the national theme for this year is “Honoring Our Past. Forging Our Future,” reminding us to acknowledge the foundational work of those who came before us, while also striving to build and lead the EMS system we envision for our future. 

The Maine EMS Awards Committee has selected recipients for the 2024 Maine EMS Awards. The awards conferred to these recipients recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of our EMS clinicians, partners, and organizations throughout Maine.

There will be two events on May 23 you may be interested in attending and being a part of:

11 am: Remembrance ceremony at the Maine EMS Memorial (On the grounds of the capitol building, next to State Street and adjacent to the Fire & Law Enforcement memorials)

Approximately 12pm (upon conclusion of the remembrance ceremony): Maine EMS  Awards in the Hall of Flags at the Capitol Building in Augusta.

Governor Mills EMS Week Proclamation 2024 (PDF)

Message from NHTSA Director of EMS Gam Wijetunge (Youtube)

Message from NREMT (PDF)

List of 2024 award recipients (PDF)

Directions to the Maine State House

 

 

• Sunday is Health, Wellness, and Resilience Day

Sunday of EMS Week is Health, Wellness, and Resilience Day to promote the health, wellness and resilience of EMS providers and patients. Health, Wellness, and Resilience Day highlights the need to recognize and care for the health and wellness of EMS providers and patients and share ideas on strengthening resilience. It is an opportunity to step back and take care of ourselves through self-care as well as to care for our fellow EMS professionals and the patients who are in our care every day.

• Monday is Education Day

Monday of EMS Week is Education Day, highlighting public education programs and EMS provider education.  Education Day seeks to highlight community educational programs, as well as the importance of continuing education for EMS practitioners. This is the ideal day to plan a community injury or illness prevention program and a special CE course for your agency. Consider in-person or online community education programs related to the prevention of falls, burns, poisoning or drowning.

• Tuesday is EMS Safety Day

This day is to promote Safety for the EMS provider, the patient, and the public.  Safety Day encourages first responders to focus on risk and prevention rather than possible negative outcomes and aims to promote the advancement of safety measures for both the community and the profession. This is a great day to highlight stress reduction, self-care and mental health awareness programs. Other options for programs include improved situational awareness, driving and roadway safety, vehicle and device maintenance, proper lifting techniques or violence awareness.

• Wednesday is EMS for Children Day

EMS for Children Day highlights the distinctive physiological and psychological aspects of caring for children and serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about improving specialized care for children in pre-hospital and acute care settings. Consider planning a pediatric care educational event for your clinicians and a community program related to first aid, emergency preparedness, car seats or bicycle safety.

Three EMS CEH pediatric classes will be offered via zoom.  Visit this link for more information.

• Thursday is Save-A-Life Day

This day is to promote Stop the Bleed, public CPR programs and other programs It doesn’t matter how quickly EMS practitioners get to a scene—bystanders will almost always be there first. Save-A-Life Day empowers the general public to learn and apply steps that can be taken to help save a life. This is an ideal day to schedule community CPR and Stop the Bleed educational courses. Take advantage of the many programs and toolkits available that make it easier to coordinate these programs.

• Friday is EMS Recognition Day

This day serves to recognize your local EMS heroes and those who save lives through the EMS system. On EMS Recognition Day, we honor members of the EMS community who regularly go above and beyond what’s expected. It’s a day to give gratitude to first responders for their unwavering commitment to serve their communities. Plan a memorial ceremony, an awards event, a special meal, a gift-giving event and other honors for EMS Recognition Day.