Counties across Maryland are marking May 15th through the 21st to celebrate the importance of EMS and EMS personnel. 
Across Maryland, county leaders are celebrating May 15th through the 21st as (Emergency Medical Service) EMS Week. The celebration is meant to bring together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s frontline. This year’s Emergency Medical Services Week theme, “Rising to the Challenge,” highlights that EMS professionals face so many challenges and successfully rise above them.
President Biden signed a proclamation marking the 47th Annual National EMS Week:
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. 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….
With compassion, determination, and skill, EMS providers embody the best of our Nation — from paramedics, 911 dispatchers, and emergency medical technicians to nurses, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. Collectively, they distributed COVID-19 vaccinations, provided aid after medical emergencies and disasters, and eased our suffering in countless ways. The unwavering commitment of EMS providers to public service often comes at the cost of their own physical well-being, mental health, and precious time with loved ones….
During Emergency Medical Services Week, we share our appreciation for the selfless EMS professionals who provide lifesaving services every day and risk their lives each time they answer the call of service.
The role of EMS has remained central to the safety of our communities and has only grown since the 1970s. Challenges such as the opioid epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the aging of our population all highlight the central role EMS plays in the public safety arsenal. Longtime readers of Conduit Street will know that MACo made it a priority to push for increased EMS reimbursements as part of our 2022 legislative priorities. As a result, counties were successful in passing SB295/HB44, which realigned how Maryland funds EMS for the 21st century.
Check out these tweets from counties celebrating their EMS personnel:
Read President Biden’s Proclamation.
Read more about MACo’s push for more significant EMS funding.
