Posted on 05/10/2010

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) will
kick off the 37th annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week starting May
16th with events in communities across the nation, as well as several national
events organized around the theme, "Anytime. Anywhere. We'll be
there." 

EMS providers include paramedics, emergency medical
technicians, first responders, fire fighters and police, some paid, some
volunteer. National EMS Week will feature hundreds of grassroots activities
coast-to-coast, including safety demonstrations, fire truck and ambulance
tours, blood pressure screenings and educational programs. 

 

The 18th Annual National EMS Memorial Service will take
place on June 26, 2010 at its new home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This will
also be the setting for the National EMS Memorial Tree of Life, previously
located in Roanoke, Virginia. The name, agency and date of loss of each
National EMS Memorial Service honoree is engraved on a bronze oak leaf, which
is then added to the Tree of Life

 

In addition, Child Safety and Injury Prevention Day will be
celebrated on May 19th. This annual observance draws attention to the
specialized need for pediatric emergency care to ensure that every child in the
nation receives the highest quality emergency care possible.

 

"People know when they call 911 they'll get help, no
matter what their circumstance," said Angela Gardner, MD, FACEP, president
of the American College of Emergency Physicians.  "One of the great rewards for every rescuer is to be
part of the effort that saves a life. The less dramatic actions of EMS
responders are just as important to a patient or family who are facing the
unknown with fear and pain. Their presence and caring can have an impact far
beyond the expert clinical care they provide."

 

Always call EMS if someone needs immediate medical
treatment. To make this decision, ask yourself the following questions:

    *
Is the person's condition life-threatening?

    *
Could the person's condition worsen and become life-threatening on the way to
the hospital?

    *
Does the person require the skills or equipment of paramedics or emergency
medical technicians?

    *
Could the distance or traffic conditions cause a delay in getting the person to
the hospital?  If your answer to
any of these questions is "yes," or if you are unsure, it's best to
call EMS. Paramedics and EMTs can begin medical treatment at the scene and on
the way to the hospital and alert the emergency department of the person's
condition en route.

 

When you call for help, speak calmly and clearly. Give your
name, address and phone number; give the location of the patient and describe
the problem. Don't hang up until the dispatcher tells you to, because he or she
may need more information or give you instructions.

Be ready to help while you wait for emergency services to
arrive. If the person is not breathing or does not have a pulse, begin rescue breathing
or CPR. If you do not know how to, or have concerns about performing
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the American Heart Association has endorsed
"hands-only" CPR. This means "pushing hard and fast in the middle
of the victim's chest with minimal interruptions," at a rate of 100
compressions per minute. The pop song "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees
is approximately 100 beats per minute, which is a helpful way to remember how
fast to perform compressions. Continue chest compressions until the ambulance
arrives. For more information, visit http://handsonlycpr.org/.

SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians

http://www.acep.org

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