Emergency Medical Services Week, 2015

Proclamation 9281 of May 15, 2015

Emergency Medical Services Week, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Few moments are as terrifying as those when medical
emergencies strike. But thanks to the courageous
efforts of all who provide emergency medical services
(EMS), Americans know they and their loved ones will be
cared for in their hours of greatest need. As we mark
Emergency Medical Services Week, we thank these
selfless women and men, and we recommit to upholding an
EMS system that is ready every day for every emergency.

Time and again, our Nation has witnessed the critical
role EMS professionals play in the lives of our people.
Whether 911 dispatchers, emergency medical technicians,
paramedics, EMS medical directors, law enforcement
officers, firefighters, or nurses, they are dedicated
first responders who operate at the crossroads between
health care, public safety, and public health--often
without pay as volunteers. In intense, high-stress
situations, these professionals and volunteers come to
the aid of their fellow Americans, easing suffering and
frequently making the difference between life and
death.

This week, we celebrate the EMS providers who risk
their own lives and health to protect the well-being of
others. At scenes of accidents and natural disasters,
in times of personal crisis and national tragedy, they
offer essential services and demonstrate the strength
and resilience of the American people. As these heroes
rush forward for us, may we remember to stand for them,
and may we never forget that an efficient, high-quality
EMS system is crucial to ensuring care during any
emergency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim May 17 through May
23, 2015, as Emergency Medical Services Week. I
encourage all Americans to observe this occasion by
showing their support for their local EMS providers and
taking steps to improve their personal safety and
preparedness.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.