May 13, 2006 – St. Thomas and St. John EMT Associations will celebrate National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, throughout the territory May 14-20, to bring together members of the community and EMTs. The purpose is to encourage greater awareness of health and safety issues and emphasize the need for prevention of accident and illness. The week is also set aside to honor the dedication of EMTs, who provide lifesaving services on the medical "front line" 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The observance, established in the U.S. 33 years ago, is sponsored by the American College of Emergency Physicians. The week will feature a variety of EMT-sponsored activities throughout the islands with this year's theme, "EMS: Serving on Health Care's Front Line," which underscores the commitment and dedication of the 46 staff and 7 management EMS providers who actively and courageously serve the territory.
Throughout the week EMTs will conduct free health screenings and children's activities, appear on radio talk shows and take part in primary school demonstrations highlighting the importance of EMS within the community.
An additional component of EMS Week is EMS-C day, or Children's Day, on Wednesday, May 17. This day focuses on drawing attention to the essential need for specialized emergency care for children, and EMTs will be highlighting children in all community activities presented that day.
The community is encouraged to find ways of expressing their appreciation and gratitude to all of the EMTs within the Virgin Islands who respond at all hours of the day or night to requests for any and all pre-hospital emergency medical assistance.
Activities Planned for EMS Week
St. Thomas
Sunday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m. EMS Church Service, Sts. Peter & Paul
Monday, May 15, at 12:30 p.m. WSTA – Irvin Brown Show, STT and STJ EMTs at
7 p.m. WSTA – AFT Speaks Program – STT EMTs
7:30 a.m. Employee Health Screening – CostULess
Wednesday, May 17 Educational Presentations – Primary
Schools
Friday, May 19, at 7:30 a.m. Employee Health Screening – PriceSmart
St. John
Wednesday, May 17, at 3 p.m. -6 p.m. Free Health Screening and KidsCare
Workshops – Marketplace
Thursday, May 18, at 5 p.m. Presentation to STJ AARP members
Nazareth Lutheran Church Hall
Friday, May 19, at 10 a.m. Sam Topp Show, STJ and STT EMTs
Saturday, May 20, at 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Trunk Bay Multi-Agency Immobilization
Workshop, Competition and Family Fun
Day with Picnic Pot Luck.
