Paramedics and emergency medical technicians are celebrated for the work they do in safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of their communities during the 47th annual National EMS Week.

This is the first National EMS Week since the Washington EMS unit went live on July 9th of last year. They are composed of about 25 volunteers, with typically one or two members on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies. Washington Fire Assistant Chief Carrie Ornduff oversees the unit, which has received around 60 calls a month in its first year, “Of the 700 plus calls that we’ve had this year alone, we’ve never not responded to any of them. So what is interesting or unique about it is that we’ve always got somebody that’s wanting to help and so they’re responding. And I love and give kudos to all of my group for doing that.”

Washington EMS may often be the first to respond to an emergency call, providing first aid, basic assessment, and other duties of the emergency medical technician level. Ornduff says they are always looking to advance their capabilities, as they’re currently seeking grant funding to purchase a LUCAS CPR device.