Iowa observes EMS Week

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) joins local and national partners in recognizing May 20 through 26 as EMS Week. This year's theme is “EMS: More Than a Job. A Calling.” Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will join IDPH Director Mariannette Miller-Meeks in recognizing EMS Week at a special event Tuesday, May 22 at the Brooklyn, Iowa firehouse in Poweshiek County.

“It's appropriate to set aside a week to honor those who serve in emergency medical services,” said Miller-Meeks. “Access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury.” There are more than 12,000 career and volunteer EMS providers in Iowa, including emergency physicians, emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, and administrators.

For more information on the IDPH Bureau of EMS, visit

www.idph.state.ia.us/ems/default.asp. To learn more about National EMS Week, visit

www.acep.org/emsweek/