EMS receives national recognition during May

     EMS providers across the nation will be honored during EMS Week 2009, May 17-23.

     This year's theme is "A Proud Partner in Your Community." As always, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is spearheading the week, intended to recognize those who provide lifesaving services on medicine's front lines. ACEP offers a variety of resources to help communities develop local celebrations and events, including an EMS Week Planner; marketing opportunities; and outreach options for adults, children and teens. Visit www.acep.org/emsweek.

     EMS Week coincides with the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, which will be May 16-22. The Ride, too, is intended to honor EMS providers and raise awareness, and additionally recognize those hurt and killed in the line of duty and work to reduce such occurrences. For more: https://muddyangels.org.

     The National EMS Memorial Service recognizes EMS personnel killed in the line of duty. It will honor 91 providers this year, bringing to 514 the number memorialized since the Service's inception in 1992. The official ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. EDT on May 23 at First Baptist Church in Roanoke, VA. Those not attending are asked to observe moments of silence wherever they are. This will be the Service's final year in Roanoke. In 2010, it moves to Colorado Springs, along with the "Tree of Life" on which fallen providers' names are inscribed. Visit www.nemsms.org.