WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are a vital public service, and reliable access to fast, quality emergency medical care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden and life-threatening illness or injury; and

WHEREAS, serving as the safety net of our health care system, the dedicated and committed members of EMS teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and

WHEREAS, EMS teams are highly skilled and consist of emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, physicians, nurses, emergency trauma technicians, educators, and administrators; and

WHEREAS, we are thankful for career and volunteer members of EMS teams who educate the public about injury prevention and engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their skills; and

WHEREAS, the EMS clinicians of Alaska deliver vital lifesaving and equitable healthcare to those in need, and we must help facilitate time for them to step back and take care of themselves as well as their fellow EMS professionals.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim May 19 – 25, 2024 as:

Emergency Medical Services Week

in Alaska and encourage all Alaskans to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities, to educate themselves in lifesaving first aid and CPR skills, and to practice techniques for illness and injury prevention.