Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined by Emergency Services Commissioner Dan Neaverth, Jr., Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein, members of the Erie County Emergency Medical Services department, and emergency medical service providers from around Erie County today at the Public Safety Campus in Buffalo to proclaim “EMS Week” in Erie County. A national observance, this 44th annual EMS week runs from May 21 – 27, 2017 and honors the thousands of EMS practitioners serving communities across the country.

“Emergency medical service teams are on the front lines every day, providing lifesaving care at a moment’s notice and around the clock. They are true heroes and are very deserving of all the thanks we can give them,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “When every second counts and lives are hanging in the balance, these are the men and women who step in to make all the difference, giving of themselves to protect their community.”

National EMS Week was first recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1974 and brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide lifesaving services at a moment’s notice. This year’s theme is “EMS Strong: Always in Service”. EMS personnel include emergency physicians, nurses, medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, and others; working as a team, these lifesaving providers deliver medical care wherever it’s needed.

Emergency Services Commissioner Dan Neaverth, Jr. added, “During a medical emergency, car accident or overdose the difference between life and death can be a matter of seconds. Every day thousands of EMS responders in Erie County answer the call, making that difference. Each of them serves as the backbone of our EMS delivery system. We celebrate their compassion and dedication this week and I encourage the public to join me in doing the same."

“Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the dedicated members of EMS first response teams throughout Erie County provide invaluable service as they help keep us safe,” stated Dr. Gale Burstein, Erie County Commissioner of Health (“ECDOH”). “Not only are they ready to serve at a moment’s notice, but behind the scenes they are also contribute significant personal time to continually train in order to be prepared for scenarios that vary widely—from an accident, natural disaster, act of terrorism to a public health emergency that may involve mass immunization or distribution of medicine. We owe them our sincere and profound thanks.”

Erie County Emergency Services launched iVolunteerEMS.org in support of the recruitment efforts of the five (5) volunteer EMS emergency squads and dozens of volunteer fire departments that provide emergency medical services in their communities across the county. It serves as the partner site to iVolunteerFIRE.org, Erie County’s recruitment headquarters for volunteer fire and emergency services.

Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to visit their local volunteer emergency squad or fire department, email iVolunteerEMS@erie.gov or call the county’s volunteering hotline at: 716-601-3021.

For more information:

On the Erie County Department of Emergency Services, visit http://www2.erie.gov/emergencyservices/ .

On National EMS Week, visit www.emsweek.org .