R 259
2021 -- H 6340
Enacted 05/18/2021

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MAY 16TH THROUGH 22ND OF 2021 AS "EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Alzate, Filippi, Fenton-Fung, Casey, O'Brien, Kazarian, and Tanzi

Date Introduced: May 18, 2021

     WHEREAS, In 1974, President Gerald Ford established Emergency Medical Services
Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and to thank them for the important work they do in our
nation's communities; and
     WHEREAS, Every day of the year, emergency medical services professionals save lives
and provide a vital public service. Access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the
survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and
     WHEREAS, Emergency medical services also fill gaps in our healthcare system by
providing important out-of-hospital care including preventative medicine, follow-up care, and
access to telemedicine; and
     WHEREAS, Emergency medical services professionals consist of first responders,
emergency medical technicians, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers,
educators, administrators, pre-hospital nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trained
members of the public, and other out-of-hospital medical care providers; and
     WHEREAS, The members of emergency medical services teams, whether career or
volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to
enhance their lifesaving skills; and
     WHEREAS, The 2021 theme of EMS Week is "THIS IS EMS: Caring For Our
Communities." This theme is particularly meaningful in 2021, as it reminds people that every day
emergency services professionals are and have been there to respond, support, and care for the
needs of our communities during the pandemic; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby proclaims May 16th through 22nd
of 2021 as "Emergency Services Week" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH,
Rhode Island Department of Health.
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LC002834
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