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9 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 b. EMS Week Proclamation <br /> 3 The Board approved a proclamation designating the week of May 15 through 21, 2022, as <br /> 4 Emergency Medical Services Week in Orange County. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 BACKGROUND: The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has announced that <br /> 7 the 47th annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week will be celebrated throughout the <br /> 8 nation on May 15 through 21, 2022, in recognition of the dedicated professionals who provide <br /> 9 emergency services to residents and visitors. EMS is now firmly established as an essential <br /> 10 public function and a vital component of the medical care continuum. On any given day, EMS <br /> 11 practitioners help save lives by responding to medical emergencies, including heart attack, <br /> 12 difficulty breathing, a fall or accident, drowning, cardiac arrest, stroke, drug overdose or acute <br /> 13 illness. EMS may provide both basic and advanced medical care at the scene of an emergency <br /> 14 and enroute to a hospital. EMS practitioners care for their patients' medical needs and show <br /> 15 caring and compassion to their patients in their most difficult moments. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 With mobile integrated healthcare and community paramedicine (MIH-CP), EMS is also <br /> 18 increasingly a valued participant in achieving the nation's overall healthcare goals of improved <br /> 19 patient health and lowered costs. Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local <br /> 20 communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who <br /> 21 provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's "front line." The Emergency Medical <br /> 22 Services system in Orange County includes Telecom municators, Fire Departments, Law <br /> 23 Enforcement Officers, Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, South Orange Rescue <br /> 24 Squad, First Choice, North State Ambulance Service, Priority Care, Emergency Nurses, <br /> 25 Emergency Physicians, County Staff, Carolina AirCare, and the University of North Carolina <br /> 26 Department of Emergency Medicine. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 The Orange County Emergency Medical Services system responded to 19,378 reported <br /> 29 emergencies last year, providing EMS response, medical assessment, treatment, and <br /> 30 ambulance transportation when medically necessary. Emergency Services staffs eight (8) <br /> 31 ambulances and Two (2) paramedic certified EMS Supervisors daily. The division is staffed with <br /> 32 eight (8) EMS Supervisors, four (4) paramedic certified Field Training Officers, thirty-two (32) <br /> 33 paramedics and twenty-eight (28) emergency medical technicians who are all exceptionally <br /> 34 dedicated and skilled. Two (2) Community Paramedics have also provided invaluable service to <br /> 35 the aging population of the County. EMS providers proved indispensable throughout the <br /> 36 pandemic. EMS assisted in the staffing of the mass vaccination clinics providing over 58% of <br /> 37 the total vaccines. The Orange County Community Paramedics continued the vaccination <br /> 38 delivery to over 450 individuals who were unable to physically or safely travel to a vaccine clinic. <br /> 39 Emergency Medical Responders throughout Orange County provide a valuable service to the <br /> 40 residents and visitors and help make Orange County a safer place to live. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 With the theme, "EMS: Rising to the Challenge," everyone is reminded that the Orange County <br /> 43 emergency medical services system has demonstrated exceptional ability to stand strong and <br /> 44 maintain the highest standards of care throughout the pandemic. <br /> 45 <br /> 46 <br />