34th Annual EMS Week (May 20-26, 2007):

Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's "front line."

"As this year's theme emphasizes, EMS providers are dedicated to saving lives, even putting their own lives on hold as they respond to medical emergencies," said Dr. Brian Keaton, president of ACEP. "They do this every day without special recognition, which is why we are recognizing EMS providers this year as extraordinary."

The weeklong series of events will include national and local activities to honor EMS providers (paramedics, emergency medical technicians, first responders, fire fighters, and police), and to raise public awareness about health and safety issues, including how to prevent injuries and what to do in a medical emergency.

The EMS Week theme for 2007 is "Extraordinary People, Extraordinary Service." This slogan celebrates the exceptional service being provided to countless patients every day, often under incredibly challenging circumstances. It illustrates the fact that EMS providers are dedicated to saving lives and limiting suffering, even if that requires personal sacrifice and risk. They are selfless professionals who put their own lives on hold, day after day, to respond to the emergency needs of others.

This is the seventh year in a row that a day during EMS Week will be dedicated to children. May 23 will be EMS for Children Day with programs specifically for child safety and injury prevention.