May 14, 2003

Galveston – National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, a celebration to honor EMS providers nationwide who deliver lifesaving care, is scheduled for May 18-24, 2003. EMS week is also a time when EMS crews provide vital educational material and training to adults and children on topics such as bike safety, recognizing an emergency, and what to do until help arrives.

“Working as a paramedic is different from any other career you can have,” says Greg Kunkel, Chief of Operations, Galveston Emergency Medical Services. “You get tremendous satisfaction from helping others and knowing you make a difference between life and death. Most people don’t have a clue what EMT’s and paramedics do everyday.”

National EMS Week recognizes the lifesaving care EMS providers offer on a 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week basis. This year’s EMS Week theme – EMS: When It Matters Most – emphasizes that no matter what the emergency or when it occurs, be it an injury, an automobile crash, a heart attack, a diabetic emergency, or childbirth, EMS responders are there to provide immediate lifesaving care and transportation.

“EMS Week offers a great opportunity for us to educate a large number of citizens about injury prevention and safety awareness,” says Kunkel. Some of the EMS Week activities planned this year are:

• Sunday May 18th – EMS personnel recognition day at area churches.
• Monday May 19th – Proclamation from steps of city hall presented by Mayor Quiroga 10:00 a.m.
• Tuesday May 20th – EMS Open House at all Galveston EMS stations.
• EMS Main, 2602 Avenue Q
• EMS Sub-Station, 5001 Avenue Q
• West end Sub-Station, Jamaica Beach City Hall
• Wednesday May 21st – EMS Children’s Day at local schools.
• Thursday May 22nd – Galveston EMS will participate in the American Heart Association’s “Strike out Stroke Night” at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
• Friday May 23rd – Galveston EMS will host a Health Fair at City Hall from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday May 24th – Galveston EMS Family Day.

This is the 29th year that EMS Week has been sponsored nationally by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). Locally the activities of the Galveston Emergency Medical Services are coordinated by the Galveston County Health District.

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org