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