National Emergency Medical Services Week

St Johns County Fire Rescue Chief, Carl A. Shank, told Historic City News that, together with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, during National Emergency Medical Services Week, it has been his honor to recognize the tremendous role that EMS practitioners make to improve the health of our citizens.

Both locally, and in communities across the nation, the around-the-clock dedication of EMS professionals during the past year accounted for emergency care to more than 36 million patients. The theme for National Emergency Medical Services Week this year, is “EMS: One Mission. One Team.”

“The public’s misperception of the EMS profession is that providers are ambulance drivers — as opposed to EMT or paramedics,” Chief Shank pointed out. “The public is failing to understand that the people who arrive at your house or your accident scene are skilled and educated, and come with training and equipment and the capability to handle an emergency.”

EMS professionals are committed to delivering emergency medical care in the community; striving for seamless care — from the field to the hospital emergency department or trauma center.

“It’s not just that they have the keys to the vehicle that has lights and sirens on it,” Shank joked. “EMS is an essential part of building a resilient health care system that functions efficiently and effectively every day and is capable of responding to disasters and public health emergencies.”

Shank reported that St Johns County Fire Rescue is proud to serve the St Johns County community and takes great pride in providing a consistent, high level of emergency response, and EMS care to our citizens.

“I want to take this time to thank the dedicated professionals in EMS for the critical work they do to improve the health of the nation and strengthen the health and security of all Americans,” Shanks told Historic City News. “Their commitment to ensuring that patients receive the best medical care available, anytime and anywhere, is paramount to advancing the health safety and welfare of the American people.”