Get involved in EMS Week and EMSC Day

National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, May 16-22, is an annual celebration of the dedication of EMS providers across the country who make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans every day. The 2021 theme is "This is EMS: Caring for Our Communities,” presented by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) with support from many organizations, including the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program.

The week features several annual theme days--including EMSC Day on Wednesday, May 19.

Below are some ways to get involved with EMS Week and EMSC Day:

1. Join one of two Pediatric Readiness webinars (or both!). Two webinars will highlight emergency department pediatric readiness and prehospital pediatric readiness:
   “Pediatric Readiness: Every Child, Every Day,” which will cover pediatric readiness across the care continuum, will take place on Wednesday, May 19, at 2 pm ET. The event is a collaboration of the EMSC Program, ACEP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, the Emergency Nurses Association, and the National Association of State EMS Officials. Featured speakers include leadership from collaborating organizations as well as Michael Warren, MD, MPH, FAAP, Associate Administrator, Maternal and Child Health, Health Resources and Services Administration. Register here. (Note: registration is free but required through ACEP’s site.)
   “This is EMS: Taking Care of Our Children,” which is geared toward prehospital practitioners, will take place on Thursday, May 20, at 2 pm ET and is a collaboration of EMSC and ACEP. Register here. (Note: registration is free but required through ACEP’s site.)
2. Show your support on social media. An email signature banner, themed profile images, and shareable graphics are available to help spread the word about EMS Week and EMSC Day across social media channels. Learn more.
3. Recognize EMS practitioners through thank-you templates and cards. Send these templates to schools in your area; students can personally thank their local EMS practitioners and send them to their local EMS agency. Learn more.
4. Obtain a proclamation in your state. Keep in mind that each state has a different process and turnaround time. But if you’d like to explore having your state declare May 19, 2021, as EMSC Day, there are two helpful templates for you to use: a letter and the proclamation language itself. Learn more.
5. Engage kids in fun activities. A great way to raise awareness and encourage safety is to engage children in EMS Week and EMSC Day. We have collected a number of activity and coloring sheets to help children learn about topics like fire safety, bike safety, and more. Learn more.
6. Learn about the five theme days. In addition to EMSC Day on Wednesday, Monday is Education Day; Tuesday is Safety Tuesday; Thursday is Save-A-Life (CPR and Stop the Bleed Challenge) or "National Stop the Bleed” Day; and Friday is EMS Recognition Day. Learn more.

For more information about EMSC Day, visit the EMSC Day page. For more information about EMS Week, visit www.emsstrong.org.