EMS Week 2011 Celebrates 'Everyday Heroes'
The May 15-21 week celebrates the care and service of EMS providers nationwide -- first responders, hospitals, emergency physicians, NHTSA, and public health providers.
Plans are being made for the 2011 EMS Week, which will be observed May 15-21 by the entire spectrum of EMS, from first responders to emergency physicians. "Everyday Heroes" is the theme, and a variety of outreach events are planned by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and partner organizations.
Corporate sponsors are the American Heart Association, Physio Control, The Medtronic Foundation, MedicAlert, Masimo, Genentech, and Graham Medical, Jones & Bartlett, and EmCare/AMR. ACEP has created a 45-page planning guide that is available at this website.
Drew Dawson, director of the NHTSA Office of EMS, writes in its spring 2011 "EMS Update" newsletter that the week "provides not only an opportunity to educate the public and community leaders with messages of safety and prevention, but also is a time to celebrate the crucial role EMTs and paramedics play in our communities. We at NHTSA honor your hard work and sacrifice."
An article in the newsletter says NHTSA and NIOSH have formed a partnership to improve national EMS injury and illness surveillance. NIOSH began collecting nationally representative data in July 2010 and will provide annual findings from the study, it says.
NHTSA also is working with ACEP to develop a National EMS Culture of Safety strategy, with a May 25-26, 2011, conference planned.