NASHVILLE, TN — Around the country, including right here in Davidson County, May 21st through May 27th is designated as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week. EMS week was first declared by President Gerald Ford in 1974, and most recently declared by President Donald Trump on May 19th, 2017.
The Nashville Fire Department has many men and women who are trained in emergency medical services and are positioned either in one of the twenty-eight medical units, or on fire apparatuses.
Nashville Fire EMS personnel responded to over 59,300 medical calls last year alone. These calls for service can range from minor traffic accidents, to heart attacks, drownings, gunshot victims or even childbirth situations. In some of the most stressful times a person experiences, we rely on emergency medical services to keep their calm, think fast, be thorough and do everything in their power to stabilize a patient; all while keeping their patient and themselves safe from any possible harm.
“I would like to personally thank each and every one of our amazing emergency medical services personnel. This week is such a tremendous opportunity to recognize, and show some extra appreciation for EMS personnel,” says Nashville Fire Director-Chief Ricky White. “Some folks may have yet to experience the outstanding work of our EMS personnel, and that’s great; and for those that have had to call on our emergency medical services, I’m confident they received the best of the best emergency medical service possible. Our EMS personnel stand ready to assist all that need them, and we stand by all our EMS personnel. ”
The Korean War Veterans Bridge will be lit up in red and white Thursday of this week to honor all our EMS personnel.