In my May 01 blog I talked about the theme this month at AnchoredScraps.com is recognizing service to others. We continue that with May 17-23 being National EMS Emergency Medical Services Week.
In 1973, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Emergency Medical Services Week to celebrate EMS, its practitioners and the important work they do in responding to medical emergencies.
National Emergency Medical Services Week 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 medicine’s “front line”. It is the perfect time to honor your local EMS professionals and promote awareness of their everyday services to the public.
The theme of National Emergency Services week for 2015 is EMS Strong. They have life-saving tips at their site. “The EMS Strong campaign seeks to celebrate, unify and inspire the men and women of our nation’s emergency medical services. Created by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in partnership with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), EMS Strong brings together associations, EMS services, sponsors and national media to honor the dedication of EMS practitioners nationwide.”
There is an insightful article about National Emergency Medical Services Week: Tips to prep for paramedics and what we can do to help – “Paramedics tell 47 ABC when they arrive on a scene, they don’t know what to expect. They say because of that, it’s very important to have personal information available to access.” …Whittington continues, “Keep a list of your past medical history, your allergies, and medication that you currently take.”
It was nice to find this postage stamp (shown upper left) depicting an old horse-driven ambulance in Finland, 1967. Attribution: By Published by Posti- ja telelaitos (http://www.datafun.fi/postimerkki/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. This postage stamp published by Posti- ja telelaitos before January 1, 1990 is in the public domain because it is a part of a decision issued by a public authority in Finland. Section 9 of the Finnish Copyright Act specifies that no copyright exists in such material.
Writing a letter of thanks to someone who has been instrumental in an emergency is something you may have had occasion to do before. Thank you to these men and women who make a huge difference in our lives! I encourage you to see if there is something locally in your area you can participate in this week or drop by with a notecard with written thanks.
Anchors Aweigh,
Helen
