WASHINGTON, DC—The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), in partnership with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), is pleased to announce the theme for EMS Week 2023: Where Emergency Care Begins. The national campaign honors the professionals who provide emergency medical services to our communities and will take place May 21^-27.

“EMS Week is a time to celebrate the health professionals on the frontlines who save lives every day,” said Christopher S. Kang, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. “Timely intervention from medical professionals, before a patient reaches the emergency department, can make all the difference in a crisis. Dedicated teams of first responders do everything they can for patients and their families and communities—overcoming challenges to put patients first and provide exceptional care to anyone who experiences a medical emergency.”

The national EMS Week campaign brings the EMS community together and acknowledges the accomplishments of emergency medical professionals while building awareness of their important role in the communities where they live and work. The Resource Center for National EMS Week (www.emsweek.org) includes tools for promoting and celebrating EMS Week, insight from stakeholders, and inspiring stories about EMS professionals.  

Six of the days of EMS Week center around a specific theme, and first responder organizations are encouraged to plan activities and events around these themes in their communities:

• Sunday, May 21: Health, Wellness and Resilience Day
• Monday, May 22: EMS Education Day
• Tuesday, May 23: EMS Safety Day
• Wednesday, May 24: EMS for Children Day
• Thursday, May 25: Save-A-Life Day (CPR & National Stop the Bleed Day)
• Friday, May 26: EMS Recognition Day

“During EMS Week, it’s so important to honor the paramedics, EMTs and others in EMS who do so much for their communities,” says NAEMT President Susan Bailey. “‘Where Emergency Care Begins’ reminds the public of EMS’s most important mission – the ability to respond appropriately to the most urgent emergencies, and to provide critical interventions in the field that save lives and reduce long-term disability.

“EMS practitioners demonstrate their commitment to their patients countless times every day, often in difficult circumstances – whether it’s providing care on the side of a highway, carrying a patient down multiple flights of stairs or across treacherous terrain, or being in situations where their own safety isn’t guaranteed,” Bailey says. “EMS Week is an opportunity for both EMS agency leaders and communities to show our genuine appreciation and let them know that our communities value them.”

Integral to the campaign’s success is the involvement from the corporate sponsors, strategic association partners and strategic media partners:

Corporate Supporters: FirstNet, Built with AT&T, National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and Teleflex.

Strategic Association Partners: American Ambulance Association, Association of Air Medical Services, Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education, Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Flight and Critical Care Paramedics, International Public Safety Association, National Association of EMS Educators, National Association of EMS Physicians, National Association of State EMS Officials, National EMS Management Association, National EMS Quality Alliance and National Volunteer Fire Council.

Strategic Media Partners: EMS1.com, EMS World and JEMS/EMS Today.

Visit www.emsweek.org for more information about EMS Week 2023.

###

About NAEMT

Formed in 1975 and more than 72,000 members strong, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) is the only national association representing the professional interests of all emergency and mobile healthcare practitioners, including emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical responders, paramedics, advanced practice paramedics, critical care paramedics, flight paramedics, community paramedics and mobile integrated healthcare practitioners. NAEMT members work in all sectors of EMS, including government agencies, fire departments, hospital-based ambulance services, private companies, industrial and special operations settings and in the military. For more information, visit www.naemt.org.