Emergency Medical Services Week, 2009

Proclamation 8383 of May 20, 2009

Emergency Medical Services Week, 2009

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Emergency medical services providers rush into scenes
of uncertainty and fear, and they help establish order
and calm--and save lives in the process. They include
educators, 911 dispatchers, first responders, emergency
medical technicians, paramedics, nurses, physicians,
and many others. These highly skilled teams respond to
emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When Americans find themselves in unexpected life-
threatening situations, emergency medical services
(EMS) providers provide rapid help. Quality emergency
medical care dramatically improves the survival and
recovery prospects for those who experience sudden
injury or illness. These EMS teams play a vital role in
our Nation's overall health and safety, as well as our
preparedness for pandemic disease and disasters both
natural and man-made.

Emergency medical services providers hail from a
variety of backgrounds and circumstances. They work in
rural volunteer fire departments, urban hospitals,
along our coastal waterways, and among fire-prone
western forests. Many spend their off-duty time
obtaining extra training and enhancing their lifesaving
skills. All share a common aspiration to help those in
need, and during Emergency Medical Services Week, we
express our appreciation for their critical work.

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, 2009, as Emergency Medical Services Week. I
encourage all Americans to observe this occasion by
sharing their support with local EMS workers and taking
steps to improve their personal safety and
preparedness.

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