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‘Thank you’: How the industry, local leaders and the public celebrated EMS Week

From the symbolic to the scrumptious, individuals around the country celebrated the annual celebration week in a variety of unique ways

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Photo/Goodyear Fire Department

It wasn’t a milestone year for the 46th EMS honor week, but it was a momentous one. For the last 15 months, the spotlight has been trained on public safety as the pandemic raged, civil unrest sparked, and massive political upheaval created an intense demand for emergency response.

As always, EMS showed up and did as much as they could, in the time they were allowed, with the resources they were given, day after day after day, and continue to do so.

This week the country said, “Thank you.”

They said thank you with symbolism.

https://twitter.com/EmpireStateBldg/status/1393953072318136324?s=20 https://twitter.com/PhilipCarver/status/1394718274957545480?s=20 https://twitter.com/HolidayParkVfd/status/1394474434002620416?s=20 https://twitter.com/CountyofMaui/status/1395060552389459968?s=20

They said thank you with signs.

https://twitter.com/TrumbullRegMC/status/1395063220910628865?s=20

They said thank you with continuing education.

https://twitter.com/MesaFireDept/status/1395153816337719297?s=20 https://twitter.com/MizzouEMS/status/1395423538413137920?s=20

They said thank you with food.

https://twitter.com/dcfireems/status/1395066078464823297?s=20 https://twitter.com/goodyearfire/status/1395155122032766977?s=20 https://twitter.com/PreparingWilCo/status/1395378532294004738?s=20 https://twitter.com/MercyHospitalLI/status/1395104471861104650?s=20 https://twitter.com/StJohnsEpisHosp/status/1394735807513124876?s=20

They said thank you with recognition.

https://twitter.com/MCHD_TX/status/1392200571143299072?s=20 https://twitter.com/PhillyFireDept/status/1395084982855557135?s=20 https://twitter.com/CrisisCenterTB/status/1395078505591885831?s=20 https://twitter.com/matt4yorktown/status/1395163937105137669?s=20

Rachel Engel is an award-winning journalist and the senior editor of FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. In addition to her regular editing duties, Engel seeks to tell the heroic, human stories of first responders and the importance of their work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, and began her career as a freelance writer, focusing on government and military issues. Engel joined Lexipol in 2015 and has since reported on issues related to public safety. Engel lives in Wichita, Kansas. She can be reached via email.