Merci aux professionnels de la fonction publique et des services médicaux d’urgence

During May, we have two opportunities to thank the men and women who help keep our communities safe – Public Service Recognition Week from Sunday May 2nd until Saturday May 8th, and National EMS Week from Sunday 16th May until Saturday May 22nd.  

Public Service Recognition Week  

Public Service Recognition Week was established in 1985 to honor more than 23 million federal, state, local, and tribal government employees who protect, support, and educate our communities. Since 1985, the Public Employees Roundtable and its member organizations have held annual events to deliver messages about the value of public service and acknowledge public accomplishments. 

This year – due to the COVID-19 pandemic – many events are being held virtually, and this gives an opportunity for members of the public to get involved in order to learn more about the work of government departments. The events also have the objective of improving the perception of federal, state, local, and tribal government employees to help inspire a new generation of public employees. 

The best place to find details of the virtual events is to search Twitter for the hashtag #PSRW (Public Service Recognition Week). This is because not only are federal virtual events being advertised here, but also more localized events that may be more relevant to local communities. Public agencies that want to organize their own events will find further ideas in the PSRW Celebration Toolkit. 

With regards to thanking the men and women who protect, support, and educate our communities, members of the public are being asked to show their support for public services by taking a picture of themselves alongside a sign (which you can download here) explaining why they appreciate public servants. The picture should then be posted on social media using the hashtag #PSRW. 

National EMS Week 

National EMS Week has an even longer history – the first event being authorized by President Gerald Ford in 1974. Each year since, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) have led EMS Week activities that acknowledge the important contribution of EMS practitioners to safeguarding communities.  

This year, the activities have the theme of “This Is EMS: Caring For Our Communities”; and although details of the activities planned for each day have not yet been finalized, you can get an idea of how the week will be celebrated by downloading the NAEMT’s EMS Week Planning Guide. As part of the celebrations, local agencies are also being asked to organize events to raise EMS awareness such as: 

A T-shirt design competition with EMS-themed entries. 

A food truck serving local delicacies.  

A socially-distanced family fun day. 

A blood drive to support the American Red Cross. 

First on the Scene and CPR training. 

Virtual tours of ambulances and other life-saving equipment. 

If you would like to attend any of these events – or express your appreciation for your local EMS personnel – you will find further information on Twitter by searching for the hashtags #emsweek, #thisisems, and #emsstrong. Alternatively, you can support the organizers by purchasing EMS-themed T-shirts, coolers, and other gifts by visiting the Jim Coleman online store. 

Thank you Public Service & EMS Professionals!