The Resource Center for National EMS Week

About EMS Week

In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation's communities. National Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's frontline. EMS Week is presented by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in partnership with the National Associations of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). Together, NAEMT and ACEP lead annual EMS Week activities. These organizations are working to ensure that the important contributions of EMS practitioners in safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of their communities are fully celebrated and recognized.

The American College of Emergency Physicians Salutes Clinicians for EMS Week 2023

Christopher S. Kang, MD, FACEP

President, ACEP

The National Association of EMTs Welcomes You to EMS Week 2023

Susan Bailey, MSEM, NRP

President, NAEMT

Smithsonian Museum of American History
Special EMS Week Event

Click here for more information

EMS Week Theme Days

Having special theme days during EMS Week helps to structure the week in terms of planning special events, conducting training and hosting celebrations. Remember all the days of EMS Week when planning your agency’s activities. 

Sunday is Health, Wellness, and Resilience Day to promote the health, wellness and resilience of EMS providers and patients. Health, Wellness, and Resilience Day highlights the need to recognize and care for the health and wellness of EMS providers and patients and share ideas on strengthening resilience. It is an opportunity to step back and take care of ourselves through self-care as well as to care for our fellow EMS professionals and the patients who are in our care every day.

Monday is Education Day, highlighting public education programs and EMS provider education
Education Day seeks to highlight community educational programs, as well as the importance of continuing education for EMS practitioners. This is the ideal day to plan a community injury or illness prevention program and a special CE course for your agency. Consider in-person or online community education programs related to the prevention of falls, burns, poisoning or drowning.

SPONSORED BY FirstNet Built with AT&T
Tuesday is EMS Safety Day to promote Safety for the EMS provider, the patient, and the public
Safety Day encourages first responders to focus on risk and prevention rather than possible negative outcomes and aims to promote the advancement of safety measures for both the community and the profession. This is a great day to highlight stress reduction, self-care and mental health awareness programs. Other options for programs include improved situational awareness, driving and roadway safety, vehicle and device maintenance, proper lifting techniques or violence awareness.

SUPPORTED BY National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of EMS
Wednesday is EMS for Children Day to highlight the special needs of caring for children
EMS for Children Day highlights the distinctive physiological and psychological aspects of caring for children and serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about improving specialized care for children in pre-hospital and acute care settings. Consider planning a pediatric care educational event for your clinicians and a community program related to first aid, emergency preparedness, car seats or bicycle safety.
Thursday is Save-A-Life Day to promote Stop the Bleed, public CPR programs and other programs It doesn’t matter how quickly EMS practitioners get to a scene—bystanders will almost always be there first. Save-A-Life Day empowers the general public to learn and apply steps that can be taken to help save a life. This is an ideal day to schedule community CPR and Stop the Bleed educational courses. Take advantage of the many programs and toolkits available that make it easier to coordinate these programs.

Thursday is also STOP THE BLEED® Day
Please check out the STOP THE BLEED® website and all of the programs for STOP THE BLEED® Day including:
  • STOP THE BLEED® Day (Save the date! May 25, 2023!)
  • STOP THE BLEED® Day Scholarships - over $150,000 awarded to date! Applications now open!
  • STOP THE BLEED® Day Grants - expanded program opens up in April. Grants from $1,000 to $100,000!
  • The STOP THE BLEED® Trainathon - the entire month of May!
  • The fast growing STOP THE BLEED® Day Ambassador program (now in 75+ countries)
STOP THE BLEED® Day
STOP THE BLEED® Day (May 25, 2023) is a rallying point for the campaign, meant to create broader awareness of STOP THE BLEED® and to drive training activity.

There are a number of ways that organizations involved in the campaign can participate to elevate their STOP THE BLEED® activities and support the overall growth of the campaign, including the following:
  1. Sponsor STOP THE BLEED® training classes during the month of May and/or on STOP THE BLEED® Day (May 25th).
  2. Offer special product discounts in recognition of STOP THE BLEED® Month.
  3. Talk about STOP THE BLEED® Day/Month on your website and include a link to STOP THE BLEED® Project website. You can also provide a link to the Stop the Bleed Coalition' training resources page so that people can find organizations qualified to teach STB STOP THE BLEED® classes as well as other training information.
  4. Donate kits or bleeding control equipment to the Stop the Bleed Coalition to be given as awards to schools as part of the STOP THE BLEED® Scholarship program.
  5. Put up posters at trade shows and other public events that provide information about Stop the Bleed Day and encourage people to get trained.
  6. Let us know what you are doing so we can promote it on the STOP THE BLEED® Project’s website and in our various newsletters and social media accounts. That includes sending us pictures of any events you sponsor.
STOP THE BLEED® Scholarship and Grant Programs
The Scholarship and grant programs are now accepting applications through May 31, 2023. There are grants available up to $100,000. The scholarship program has awarded over $150,000 to date.

Social Media Handles for STOP THE BLEED®:
SPONSORED BY The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)
Friday is EMS Recognition Day to recognize your local EMS heroes and those who save lives through the EMS system. On EMS Recognition Day, we honor members of the EMS community who regularly go above and beyond what’s expected. It’s a day to give gratitude to first responders for their unwavering commitment to serve their communities. Plan a memorial ceremony, an awards event, a special meal, a gift-giving event and other honors for EMS Recognition Day.

Need Help Writing Your Own EMS Week Proclamation?
See sample proclamations for help

Want to Send a Press Release?
Download our EMS Week Press Release