In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation’s communities. EMS providers serve their communities with compassion and dedication, sometimes placing their lives in danger to save another.
These first responders may be volunteers, part paid or full time but they all have the same goal in mind. That goal is to make an emergency better than when they arrived.
EMTs and Medics go through rigorous training and testing before they start working in the streets. In addition they must participate in continuing education so they can renew their license every three years.
The turnover rate for EMS personnel is high. It’s not a job for just anyone. These people will see more tragedies in a week than most people see in a lifetime. They pull dead bodies out of car crashes. They see people dismembered. They hold the hand of dying a patient. They watch people at the end of their life and in many cases they bring new life to the world.
This is not a job it is a calling. They must tolerate the 4Ps. Puke, puss, poop and pee. They do this without complaining or judging. They do it because they care. Because they want to make a difference. Because they believe in life. And because they are a special breed.
Line of duty deaths continue to increase among the EMS community. They have been assaulted, shot and beaten. They have been spit on, ridiculed, criticized, and threatened. But they show up for their next shift ready to serve you.
They don’t expect a thank you. They don’t expect to get rich. They don’t expect you to understand what they do. They just look for ways to help when you are in need.
All we would ask of you is to say a prayer for us the next time you see or hear an emergency vehicle. Pray for our safety. Pray that we will be the tools in the hands of God.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
1John 3:17
Leave a Reply