Yuma News Now

Yuma, Arizona - May 17-23 has been proclaimed “Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week” in the City of Yuma by Mayor Nelson. Nationally, this week is used to highlight the contributions of those whose responsibility it is to provide emergency medical aid in this country.

During 2008 the Yuma Fire Department responded to almost 12,000 emergency calls for service (with almost 5000 so far in 2009). More than 9000 of 2008’s calls for service were for Emergency Medical responses.

Your Emergency Medical Services are made up of communications personnel that are the first to hear from those in need and send the appropriate personnel, the Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians that respond to the sick and injured, those that transport the sick and injured to medical facilities, and the medical personnel on duty in hospital emergency rooms that continue quality care.

This week is set aside to remember those that are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer the call to serve, and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's "front line."

EMS Week is also a time to promote safety and advances in EMS response. For example, Arizona’s EMS providers have led the way in advocating the chest compression only CPR for bystanders that is now becoming a national standard.

The City of Yuma Fire Department is dedicated to providing the best in quality service to the City of Yuma.