This year's celebration is scheduled for May 16-22, 1999, and the theme for the week is, "EMS: Meeting the Challenge," reflecting the evolution of EMS and looking forward to a new century of service.

The Silver Anniversary of EMS Week will provide an opportunity to reflect on 25 years of EMS and to honor the approximately 815,000 EMS providers nationwide who deliver lifesaving emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said John Moorhead, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. "Each year, ACEP provides EMS Week planning kits to help communities plan and promote activities. In addition, National EMS Week is an opportunity for the public to learn about injury prevention, safety awareness, and medical emergencies. State and local activities honoring EMS providers and educating the public will be held across the nation throughout the week."

A special EMS Week 25th Anniversary theme and logo were also developed this year, "EMS: Ready for the 21st Century," which places a special emphasis on the challenges facing EMS of the future. Dr. Moorhead notes "there are a number of new challenges facing EMS -- in clinical care, medical oversight, communications, funding, and research."

EMS Week planning kits are designed to help EMS coordinators organize local activities and will be distributed in February 1999 to state EMS offices, ACEP chapters, hospital emergency departments, fire departments, and EMS providers. This year's EMS Week kit contains a special 25th Anniversary poster featuring an illustration by Virginia artist Sanny Hooper, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Medtronics Physio- Control Corporation. The poster reflects EMS images of the past 25 years. EMS Week kits are produced and distributed free of charge by ACEP through the generous financial support from Genentech, Inc, and Medtronics Physio-Control. The Journal of EMS (JEMS) and EMS Magazine also join as sponsors for this year's kit.

National EMS Week is sponsored by ACEP along with these EMS Week partners who distribute kits to their members and provide information used in the kits: American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Ambulance Association, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the Emergency Nurses Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Association of EMS Educators, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, the National Association of State EMS Directors, the National Council of State EMS Training Coordinators, the National Association of EMS Physicians, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, EMS for Children program, and the United States Fire Administration.

For more information or to obtain an EMS Week kit, please call 1-800-798-1822 or visit ACEP's Web site at www.acep.org  (e-mail: emsweek@acep.org). EMS Week kits can also be obtained from state EMS offices or any EMS Week partner organizations.

ACEP is a medical specialty society representing nearly 20,000 physicians who specialize in emergency medicine. ACEP is dedicated to improving emergency care through continuing education, research, and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, and a Government Services Chapter representing emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies. The American College of Emergency Physicians is a national medical society representing nearly 20,000 physicians who specialize in emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to improving the quality of emergency care through continuing education, research, and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, and a Government Services Chapter representing emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

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Last modified: 10.15.07 Copyright © 1999 The Kentucky EMS Connection. All rights reserved. News stories may be copyrighted by another organization. Original material may be reproduced provided source is credited.