Los Alamos Fire Department personnel accepted a proclamation from Los Alamos County Council Tuesday evening declaring the Week of May 19-25 as ‘Emergency Medical Services Week’ in Los Alamos County. Pictured are, from left, Chief Troy Hughes, Acting Capt. Adam Martinez, EMS Division Chief Ben Stone, Firefighter John Bialy, Firefighter Daniel Martinez, Driver Engineer Joseph Romero and County Councilor Randy Ryti. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

The proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS: Emergency medical services is a vital public service; the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24/7; and

WHEREAS: Access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience a sudden illness or injury; and

WHEREAS: Emergency medical services have grown to fill a gap by providing important, out-of-hospital care, including preventative medicine, follow up care, and access to telemedicine; the emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, pre-hospital nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trained members of the public, and other out-of-hospital medical care providers; and

WHEREAS: Members of emergency medical services teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their life-saving skills; and

WHEREAS: It is appropriate to recognize the value and accomplishments of these dedicated individuals during Emergency Medical Services Week;

NOW, THEREFORE, on behalf of the Council of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, I do hereby proclaim May 19-25, 2019 as “EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK” in Los Alamos County, and extend our thanks and gratitude to all emergency medical services providers.