LOCAL EMS WORKERS DESERVE RECOGNITION DURING NATIONAL EMS WEEK
This Is EMS: Caring for Our Communities.
Rochester, NY– Area Emergency Medical Service agencies are being recognized during the 46th Annual EMS Week. This year’s theme, “Caring for Our Communities” highlights how EMTs and Paramedics have been, and continue to be, on the front line of the COVID pandemic. Mark Phillippy, Chairman of the Monroe-Livingston Regional EMS Council said, “We come together this week to recognize the efforts and sacrifices of our EMS practitioners and their families throughout this difficult time, and thank our Community for your continued support.”
Throughout the week there are themed days beginning with “EMS Education Day” on Monday, May 17. There will be an opportunity for the media to get hands on training from local EMS leaders at 12pm at the Public Safety Building on Scottsville Road. The EMS leaders will discuss life saving techniques everyone should know like how to “Stop The Bleed”, how they are recognizing their EMTs and Paramedics and how our community can thank them for all they do. Media is welcome to set up after 11:30 am in the southside parking lot.
While doctors and nurses were rightly recognized for their hard work during the pandemic, EMS workers have been less visibly commended. The perception can be that EMS workers simply take people from a scene to a hospital, but that is just a part of how they serve. In addition to answering more than 120,000 calls for service in Monroe County last year, area EMS Agencies provide training in CPR, AED, First Aid, bleeding control and adult and pediatric emergency care. When on scene, EMTs and Paramedics deal with the patient’s physical and emotional needs. COVID required EMS staff to take extra precautions to protect the patient, hospital staff and themselves from transmitting the disease.
Because many of the 21 EMS agencies in the area are private businesses, they are not entitled to receive CARES Act funding to help offset the increased operational costs during the pandemic and only a handful of Towns in the County support EMS financially. Through it all EMS agencies and staff persevered and we should thank them for all they do for our communities during EMS Week.
For further information please contact Emilie Dawson at 585-576-7304 or email emilie.dawson@neqals.org. To donate to NEQALS go to https://www.neqals.org/donate.
