This week is National EMS Week.

National EMS Week is held May 18-24 this year with the theme of “We Care. For Everyone” and celebrates the commitment of EMS personnel to keep communities safe. A proclamation was read at Monday night’s Knoxville City Council meeting which stated, “emergency medical services is a vital public service, the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week and access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; emergency medical services fills healthcare gaps by providing important, out-of-hospital care, including preventative medicine, follow-up care, and access to telemedicine.”

Knoxville Fire Chief Cal Wyman says this week is an important reminder that EMS personnel are ready to take care of anyone in their time of need. 

“It’s mainly just letting the public know that we’re there for them. This year’s theme is we care for everyone. Obviously that’s true. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, your background, if you call 911 we’re going to show up, take care of you and have compassion for you along the way.”

An EMS open house was held at the Knoxville Fire Station last week.