Yuma Fire Department kicks off EMS Week 2018
Sunday, May 20 marked the start of National Emergency Medical Services Week 2018, an annual tradition of honoring firstresponders in the U.S. for more than 40 years now.
This year’s theme is “EMS Strong: Stronger Together” which is intended to emphasize the cooperative 24/7 efforts needed to provide effective emergency medical response.
To further mark this week, which ends on May 26, and promote public education and awareness, each day the Yuma Fire Department will highlight a different aspect of emergency care and safety.
There will also be a short ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, in the Council Chambers of City Hall, One City Plaza, when a proclamation will be read regarding Emergency Medical Services Week in the City of Yuma.
Also during the ceremony, the Paramedic, Emergency Medical Technician, and Emergency Medical Dispatcher of the Year from the City of Yuma Fire Department will be recognized.
The first EMS Week was authorized in 1973 by President Gerald R. Ford. It is a week set aside to bring greater attention to work being done to maintain the highest levels of emergency medical response.
It is also a time to focus on safety and injury prevention, critical care issues, and the partnership between citizens and EMS professionals.
The links in the chain that make up an emergency medical response begin with bystanders (and in many cases even the patients themselves) who are on the scene of a medical emergency.
It all starts with prompt and effective reporting, then acting to provide first aid, working with the Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) providing information and following first-aid instructions.
The links continue through the exchange of information between by- stander and EMD to the dispatch, response and arrival of Paramedics, and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to treat and transport patients.
The chain of emergency care then continues in the hospital emergency rooms where doctors, nurses, and other trained professionals continue the patient care.