EMS Care for Everyone
May 18 through May 24, 2025, is National EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Week, a time to recognize the amazing and dedicated EMS professionals who care for everyone.
According to the EMS Week website, "Our dedication and lifesaving skills are put to the test every day. We're called to care in big cities and in small towns, in private homes, businesses, schools, and on our nation's roadways. Whether it's saving a young victim of a motor vehicle crash, helping an elderly patient who's forgotten to take her medication, stabilizing a construction worker experiencing chest pain on the job site, or treating an overdose on a city street. We're trained and ready to deliver a range of medical interventions and support because we care for everyone."
EMS Week was first authorized in 1974 by President Gerald Ford to celebrate EMS professionals and the important work they do in the nation's communities. "National Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's frontline," the website states.
This year, EMS Week has a dedicated theme for each day, including:
Sunday - Health, Wellness, and Resilience Day
Monday - Education Day
Tuesday - EMS Safety Day
Wednesday - EMS for Children Day
Thursday - Safe-A-Life- Day
Friday - EMS Recognition Day
Saturday - EMS Remembrance Day
EMS professionals make an important difference in the lives of seniors in the community every day. Seniors may struggle with when to call for emergency medical services. So in honor of EMS Week, Fellowship Square Historic Mesa offers the following tips:
When to call 911:
There's no time to spare in the case of an emergency or life-threatening conditions such as severe bleeding, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or confusion and disorientation.
According to an article on the May Clinic News Network website, "If somebody is having chest pain; if they really can't catch their breath; if they're having signs or symptoms of a stroke, like weakness in one area of their body; certainly any sort of bleeding that might not be controlled, such as in your stool - those are all reasons to seek emergency care.
If someone is concerned that they may be having a medical emergency, calling a nurse triage line to help choose the best way to get the care they need is essential.
Preventive care is a big part of not having to resort to emergency care. It is suggested that patients keep up with their routine doctors' appointments and screenings to catch any issues before they reach the emergency level. Preventive care is typically preferred over emergency care for everyone involved.
In honor of EMS Week, Fellowship Square Historic Mesa wishes to thank its amazing staff and the countless supportive EMS professionals (firefighters, EMTs, doctors, nurses, police officers) who serve the community. Seniors, remember to give thanks to these hardworking members of the community. They do this work out of a deep passion for caring for others, which can often be a stressful and thankless job.
