The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) takes this opportunity during National EMS Week to honor the men and women serving in fire and emergency services departments across the nation who deliver pre-hospital 9-1-1 emergency medical care.
The fire service has a rich history of protecting the health and safety of the communities through an ‘all hazards’ response model that includes the delivery of pre-hospital emergency medical care. Fire service-based EMS providers are located, trained and equipped to provide virtually every community with timely pre-hospital 9-1-1 emergency medical response and patient care.
Emergency medical calls
National EMS Week is a time to pause and say ‘thank you’ to the entire EMS Community
Firefighters/EMTs and paramedics respond quickly, professionally, and compassionately in communities across the United States and they do it every day, 24/7. These are extraordinary times with the COVID-19 pandemic posing potential health risks to all Americans.
Yet despite these risks, fire service-based EMS personnel continue responding to emergency medical calls, exposing themselves to the virus in the process. They do not waiver because they accept the risks as part of their job.
National EMS Week is a time to pause and say ‘thank you’ to the entire EMS Community, including firefighter/EMTs and paramedics, the nation’s ‘all hazards’ response professionals. They are the nation’s first responders always prepared to serve others in times of emergencies. CFSI thanks each one of them for their dedicated service, and remains committed to advocating for federal programs that address the needs and challenges.