WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week is a nationwide salute to the more than 600,000 Emergency Medical Technicians, 80,000 Emergency Nurses and 27,000 Emergency Physicians who provide lifesaving crisis care to our nation's residents each and every day of the year; and

WHEREAS, The 1998 EMS Week theme, EMS: MAKING A DIFFERENCE....FOR LIFE emphasizes the vital role played by all EMS personnel. It is sincerely hoped by all of the people involved in preparing for this event that EMS Week will raise public awareness of this important aspect of health care, and will lead to well-deserved recognition for the essential services provided by these devoted life-preserving professionals; and

WHEREAS, National Emergency Medical Services Week is also an opportunity to educate the public to the necessity of learning more abut injury prevention, safety awareness and emergency preparedness; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is pleased to gratefully acknowledge the expertise and hard work of Emergency Medical personnel that assures the highest quality emergency medical services care for all of the citizens of the Ocean State. This Senate, moreover, is proud to proclaim May 18-24, 1997 as EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Peter Leary, Chief of the Division of Emergency Medical Services in the Department of Health on behalf of all of Rhode Island's dedicated EMS professionals.