Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, observed from May 18–24, 2025, is a time to honor the dedication and lifesaving efforts of EMS professionals. This year’s theme, “We Care. For Everyone,” underscores the commitment of EMS providers to serve communities nationwide.
Leveraging First Arriving’s digital dashboards can enhance your department’s EMS Week celebrations by streamlining communication, recognizing staff achievements, and engaging the community. Here are five impactful ways to utilize these dashboards during EMS Week:
1. Highlight Staff Achievements and Milestones
Use the dashboards to showcase birthdays, work anniversaries, certifications, and commendations. First Arriving’s Google Slides integration allows for announcements and recognitions. Displaying these on the dashboards fosters a culture of appreciation and boosts morale.
2. Promote EMS Week Events and Activities
Integrate your department’s calendar with the dashboards to display upcoming EMS Week events, such as training sessions, community outreach programs, and wellness activities. First Arriving supports integrations like Microsoft Outlook 365 and Google Calendar, allowing real-time updates and scheduling.
3. Share Daily EMS Week Themes and Messages
Each day of EMS Week has a specific theme, such as “Health, Wellness and Resilience Day” or “Education Day.” Utilize the dashboards to display relevant messages, resources, and activities corresponding to each day’s theme, keeping staff informed and engaged throughout the week.
Sunday – Health, Wellness & Resilience Day
Promote self-care, peer support, and wellness tips for providers and patients. Share resources to help build resilience across your team.
Monday – Education Day
Highlight continuing education opportunities and share info on community safety programs like fall prevention or burn safety. Post links to online CE courses or upcoming training.
Tuesday – EMS Safety Day
Focus on safety messages: mental health, situational awareness, safe driving, and lifting techniques. Dashboards are perfect for rotating safety tips throughout the day.
Wednesday – EMS for Children Day
Share pediatric care tips and host child-focused events like car seat checks or first aid demos. Display resources to improve care for young patients.
Thursday – Save-A-Life Day
Promote bystander CPR, Stop the Bleed training, and your department’s blood drive. Post educational materials and success stories to raise awareness.
Friday – EMS Recognition Day
Celebrate your EMS heroes with shoutouts, photos, and videos. Use dashboard slides to feature birthdays, awards, and years of service.
Saturday – EMS Remembrance Day
Honor fallen EMS providers with a moment of silence, a memorial display, or a tribute wall. Use the dashboard to reflect on their sacrifice and legacy.
4. Engage the Department Through Visual Content
Display photos and videos from events, public education sessions, or thank you messages from residents. First Arriving’s dashboards support multimedia content, enabling departments to share impactful visuals highlighting their role in the community.
5. Recognize and Share Success Stories
Feature stories of successful emergency responses or testimonials from patients and their families. Sharing these narratives on the dashboards not only honors the efforts of EMS personnel, but also reinforces the importance of their work to the broader community.
By integrating First Arriving’s digital dashboards into your EMS Week celebrations, your department can enhance internal communication, recognize staff contributions, and strengthen community relations. These tools provide a dynamic platform to celebrate the dedication and service of EMS professionals effectively.
