EMS Week Spotlight: Friday: EMS Recognition

The annual EMS Week campaign recognizes the professionals who provide emergency medical services in communities across the country. Friday's theme to wrap the week is "EMS Recognition Day" and is an opportunity to show gratitude to EMS providers in all roles and job settings. Below is a brief roundup of EMS recognition happenings taking place to mark the occasion.

ATCEMS Cadets Sworn in at Texas State Capitol

Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) Cadet Class 0322, consisting of 15 field cadets and one communications cadet, graduated the academy on Friday, May 20, 2022.

The graduation and official swearing-in ceremony was held at the Texas State Capitol in the Capitol Extension Auditorium.

"It's very special to be graduating during National EMS Week and the first time we've held the ceremony at the Texas State Capitol," said EMS Public Information Officer Captain Darren Noak. "We are very excited to have these new cadets join our team and look forward to them starting their careers caring for our community."

Hall Ambulance Recognizes Current Employees and Honors Its Fallen

Hall Ambulance Service Inc., a 9-1-1 paramedic provider for Kern County, California, commemorated EMS Week by hosting a family picnic May 22, 2022 during which employees and their families enjoyed a barbecue, games, and prizes. Throughout the week, employees received custom orange tumblers with the Hall Ambulance logo and this year’s EMS Week theme, “Rising to the Challenge.”

Hall Ambulance also held a special presentation of its annual Founder’s Awards to recognize employees celebrating long-term service milestones, Divisional Employees of the Year, the President’s Award for Customer Service and the Founder’s Award for Management Excellence.

Recently, Hall Ambulance President and CEO Lavonne C. Hall unveiled the new Hall Ambulance Memorial, redesigned with blue granite, bronze lettering, and stone, to pay proper tribute to past and future fallen employees.

REMSCO Honors Recipients of CPR Lifesaving Awards

On Saturday May 21, 2022, the Suffolk Regional Emergency Medical Services Council (REMSCO) will host an event to honor the recipients of CPR Lifesaving Awards and to celebrate EMS Week.

The event will be held at the Dix Hills Fire Department in Dix Hills, New York. Agencies and members will be recognized for saving 13 patients’ lives across 10 agencies from throughout Suffolk County.

“These heroes’ actions working together are a perfect illustration of the American Heart Association’s Chain of Survival; early recognition and emergency 9-1-1 call to activate the system, early CPR, early defibrillation, early advanced life support, early post-arrest treatment and recovery,” said Jamie Atkinson, PIO for Suffolk REMSCO. “Due to the work of all agencies and providers involved, every link of the chain was met, giving a second chance at life for these Suffolk County Citizens.”

Rockland Paramedic Services Celebrates 30 Years

Rockland Paramedic Services (RPS), a not-for-profit ALS 9-1-1 and transport service in Rockland County, New York, will celebrate its 30th anniversary at New York Boulders Clover Stadium in Pomona on May 20.

The event, which will be a fundraiser for the RPS Benevolent Association, will also celebrate the career and retirement of RPS Executive Director Ray Florida, who retired in January 2020, as well as recognize RPS’ dedicated staff. Florida will throw out the first pitch of the Boulders game.

“The staff at Rockland Paramedic Services has saved thousands of lives over the past three decades and I couldn’t be prouder of their work and dedication. I am looking forward to celebrating with them at the May 20th event and honoring their contributions, sacrifices and efforts to provide the finest emergency medical care in the region,” stated Florida.

Under Florida’s leadership, RPS introduced cellular telemetry to transmit EKGs and launched a Home-Based Crisis Intervention Program and a Mobile Mental Health Crisis Team—Rockland’s Behavioral Health Response Team.