Jetton on National EMS Week: 'We are grateful to these first responders for serving our community'

State Rep. Jacey Jetton (R-Sugar) recently offered his gratitude and recognition for the work done by first responders in the local community as part of National EMS Week, which is in its 46th year.

Jetton took to social media to offer his thanks to the people who help to keep the community safe.

“This week is #NationalEMSWeek and we are grateful to these first responders for serving our community, particularly during COVID,” Jetton said in his tweet. “Thank you all for serving!”

First declared by President Gerald Ford in 1974, National EMS Week originally took place later in the year, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians. The first week was in November, with the observance later moving to October, but the week was finally moved to May in 1992 to avoid conflict with National Fire Prevention Week.

The theme for the 2021 National EMS Week was “This is EMS: Caring for our communities,” according to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) website. The activities promoted for the observance included community education about the role that EMS plays, as well as training in CPR and stopping bleeding.

For the week, the NAEMT encouraged local organizations to sponsor events, host virtual tours of ambulances, invite the public to participate in blood drives and other activities.