PHOTO: DeTar Hospital Navarro provided complimentary donuts to EMS workers May 17 in celebration of National EMS Week. Citizens Medical Center and DeTar Healthcare System will provide meals and snacks for EMS workers throughout the week. Shown from left are Victoria Fire Department Firefighter/EMT Justin Tunchez, DeTar EMS Liaison Holly Smith, Lt. Allen Carroll, DeTar Director of Clinical Outreach Rhonda Reeder, Firefighter/EMT Ranson Moore and Fire Medic Roman Mancias.
This week is National EMS Week, and the City of Victoria is joining communities around the country in thanking our Emergency Medical Services workers for the work they do to save lives and improve public health.
EMS week was started in 1974 by President Gerald Ford as a way to honor EMS workers. The Victoria Fire Department traditionally observes EMS week by raising awareness of the department’s EMS efforts and providing health education through hands-on activities.
“Because of COVID-19, we’ve had to adapt our community outreach efforts,” said Fire Chief Tracy Fox. “Although we weren’t able to host public events this year, we feel that social media is the next best way to connect with residents.”
Residents can visit City of Victoria, Texas – Government on Facebook at 3:30 p.m. each day to answer an EMS-related trivia question. The first person to answer correctly each day will win a $25 gift card to a local business.
Anyone who’d like to publicly thank a City of Victoria EMT or paramedic should message the person’s photo to City of Victoria, Texas – Government with some words of encouragement. Residents’ messages will be shared on Facebook throughout the week.
The fire department’s community partners will also be involved in the celebration, with Citizens Medical Center and DeTar Healthcare System hosting complimentary meals and snacks for EMS workers throughout the week. The hospitals work closely with the fire department to provide high-quality medical services to Victoria residents, Fox said.
The closing event for EMS Week is the Live Saving Award breakfast, when the fire department recognizes EMS workers who are credited with saving a patient’s life during a medical emergency. This year, the awards will be given at three separate breakfasts the week after EMS Week.
Residents who prefer hands-on activities should consider the fire department’s Civilian Responder Program, which teaches residents how to respond to life-threatening emergencies. To arrange a session for your business or community organization, visit www.victoriatx.gov/fire.
To receive updates about Victoria Fire Department programs and events, follow Victoria Fire Department on Facebook.