EMS: Courage And Compassion In Action

By Shawn Godfrey
08:00AM / Monday, May 21, 2007

Shawn Godfrey is a certified paramedic and the Village Ambulance Service [Williamstown, Mass.]operations manager.

Extraordinary People; Extraordinary Service

Yesterday marked the start of the 34th annual National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week which is celebrated May 20-26 this year.

The EMS Week theme for 2007 is "Extraordinary People, Extraordinary Service." This motto acknowledges the extraordinary, and often overlooked, service being provided to the sick and injured every day. The phrase validates that EMS providers are not merely “ambulance drivers”, but are professionals dedicated to limiting patient suffering and saving lives, usually under difficult and challenging circumstances, while risking their own lives day after day to respond to the emergency medical needs of others.

The EMS system includes emergency medical technicians, paramedics, first responders, firefighters, police officers, emergency physicians, emergency nurses, and many others affiliated with emergency medical care. Whether unpaid volunteer or paid career, EMS members are mandated by state laws to undergo several hours of continuing education and specialized training to maintain and enhance their lifesaving knowledge and skills om a regular basis.

The weeklong calendar of events will include local and national activities to honor EMS providers and will aim at educating the public about health and safety issues, including injury prevention and basic emergency medical care.

Local ambulance services are no exception. For example, Village Ambulance Service is hosting an Open House and Health Forum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 26 at their 30 Water St. headquarters in Williamstown. The goal of the open house is to allow the public to get a first-hand look at how their local EMS system functions as a vital part in the chain of survival, while the health forum will enable the community to learn about an array of other medical topics through staff discussion and hands-on interaction.

Thankfully, EMS is no longer looked at as simply a “ride” to the hospital. It has evolved into a highly sophisticated system with dedicated individuals who respond, often at the risk of their own safety, to help their fellow man.

Through annual endeavors like EMS Week, it is a chance for the health care industry to acknowledge the importance of emergency responders and recognize EMS as a resource beyond just a transport tool.

I personally thank each of you working in the emergency medical services arena. It is a comfort to know you are on duty every day and are prepared to assist me or my family during a medical emergency. Your courage and compassion serve as an inspiration to us all.