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5 <br /> 1 In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate the important work of EMS in <br /> 2 our nation's communities. 2024 marks the 50th Celebration of EMS Week. <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Each day Orange County residents and those passing through rely on the expertise and <br /> 5 dedication of EMS Providers. These professionals help save countless lives by responding to <br /> 6 emergency calls, providing vital on scene care, stabilization and transporting patients to the most <br /> 7 appropriate medical facilities. Their skills in high-pressure situations assist in providing rapid <br /> 8 emergency response, aid, and compassion in times of great distress and critical decision-making <br /> 9 within minutes. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 The Orange County Emergency Medical Services System responded to 23,082 reported <br /> 12 emergencies last year, providing EMS response, medical assessment, treatment, and ambulance <br /> 13 transportation when medically necessary. At full staffing, Emergency Services provides eight (8) <br /> 14 paramedic certified ambulances, two (2) Basic Life Support Ambulances seven days per week, <br /> 15 and two (2) EMS Battalion Chiefs. The Community Risk Reduction Program (Formerly the <br /> 16 Community Paramedic Program) has grown with the addition of a Community Emergency Medical <br /> 17 Technician (EMT) who joined the Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement Team in 2024. <br /> 18 Two (2) Post Overdose Response Community Paramedics and one (1) Peer Support Specialist <br /> 19 have been recruited to make up the Post Overdose Response Team which will begin response <br /> 20 on July 1, 2024. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 Emergency Medical Responders throughout Orange County provide a valuable service to the <br /> 23 residents and visitors and help make Orange County a safer place to live. The system is stronger <br /> 24 due to the exceptional service of the telecommunicators/call takers trained in Emergency Medical <br /> 25 Dispatch, Orange County's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joseph Grover, the South Orange Rescue <br /> 26 Squad, the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the County's fire departments and law enforcement <br /> 27 partners. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 With the theme EMS Week: Honoring Our Past Forging Our Future, everyone is reminded that <br /> 30 the Orange County Emergency Medical Services System has demonstrated exceptional ability to <br /> 31 stand strong and maintain the highest standards of care throughout the system's history. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Commissioner Portie-Ascott read the following proclamation: <br /> 34 <br /> 35 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 36 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK PROCLAMATION <br /> 37 MAY 19-25, 2024 <br /> 38 <br /> 39 WHEREAS, emergency medical services is a vital public service; and <br /> 40 <br /> 41 WHEREAS, the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving <br /> 42 care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and <br /> 43 <br /> 44 WHEREAS, access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery <br /> 45 rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and <br /> 46 <br /> 47 WHEREAS, the emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency <br /> 48 medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, <br /> 49 educators, administrators, pre-hospital nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, <br /> 50 trained members of the public, and other out of hospital medical care providers; and <br /> 51 <br />