EMS Advocacy Starts with You

Few things are as professionally important as advocating for what you do. Quite frankly, federal legislators take notice when you travel from your/their home districts to discuss issues that affect you and their constituents, says Christopher Way, chief officer, Kootenai County EMS System (KCEMSS), Coeur d'Alene, ID. EMS On The Hill Day gives EMS professionals that important opportunity to do that in a unified effort.

EMS On The Hill Day is a coordinated opportunity for EMS professionals—volunteer and career—to share their and the EMS community’s vision and current issues/opportunities with their federal legislators. “It’s been going on for several years and as an original and yearly attendee I am pleased to say each year the event grows,” says Way. This year’s EMS On The Hill Day is April 29, with a meeting and briefing day preceding the event on the April 28.

Way notes very recently the EMS community has really pushed initiatives for making it easier for military and veteran “medics” to transition to the civilian side of EMS. “This really takes care of two things—it gives veterans who have served their country an opportunity for a career and on the EMS side it helps with recruitment and work force development, which we know is a tremendous issue in our industry.”

Way adds, while attending EMS On The Hill Day is a great opportunity to advocate, it is not the only way. “I would encourage every EMS professional to get to know your local, state and federal legislators. Specific to the federal legislators, most have several local, in-district offices you can visit, introduce yourself to the staff, provide them with your contact information and make a connection. Ensure that as EMS-related legislation and issues come up that you contact them and make them aware of how the legislation would affect you and their constituents.”

Visit www.naemt.org.