Each year we recognize this week as Emergency Medical Services Week or EMS week. In November of 1974 EMS week was first declared by President Gerald Ford in an effort to bring attention to our healthcare system. In his proclamation, he stated.
“Let us affirm that the first year of this national legislation is only the beginning of our effort to improve this part of our total health care system so that no individual in this country will lack help when he needs it.”
46 years later we continue to work every day bring this ideal to reality.
Each day the members of the Old Orchard Beach Fire Department are a part of a local system that works hard to ensure that each member of our community receives the best emergency care in their hour of need.
This takes countless hours of education, hours of in house training preparing for the most basic calls to the most advanced the men and women of your department are here to serve you.
Every minute of every day they are at the ready and I cannot emphasize enough the professional level of commitment that these men and women have to bringing a positive outcome to every situation.
This year in his Presidential Proclamation, President Biden said ““Every day, emergency medical service (EMS) providers put the needs of their communities above their own as they respond to crises, treat injuries, and save lives," a release from the White House read. "Their heroism has been on full display throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as resilient EMS workers across the country have provided essential care to Americans. This year’s Emergency Medical Services Week theme, 'Rising to the Challenge,' pays tribute to the brave frontline professionals who work tirelessly to help their fellow Americans get immediate medical attention in their hours of greatest need.”
With the theme “Rising to the challenge, as a thought moving forward I would ask that all EMS providers rise for a brief round of applause.
Keeping with the theme “Rising to the Challenge, we have an event of significance this past November. In total; to the best of our abilities to recall, we believe that this event has only happened 4-5 times since the Town of Old Orchard Beach has delivered Emergency Medical Services.
At this time, I would ask if present, you come forward:
Captain Zachary Apgar – Paramedic
Nicki Fowlie – Paramedic
John Gilboy III – Paramedic
Jeremy Moreau – Paramedic
Lieutenant Corey Pelletier – Paramedic
Alex Winn – Advanced EMT
Captain Norman Gendron – EMT
Robert Slaving – Advanced EMT
At this time, I would like to read excerpt from a letter to be placed into the record from Marc A. Minkler, Program Manager, EMS for Children.
Original source can be found here
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