The Richmond Ambulance Authority kicked off National EMS Week with its annual Employee Appreciation Day Sunday. A number of employees were recognized for their years of service and outstanding achievements throughout the year. It was a chance for staff to spend time with their extended EMS families.

In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation’s communities. EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s “front line.”  Whether celebrated with a company cookout or a catered lunch; an open house, an awards ceremony or even quiet reflection about what it means to be an EMS practitioner, EMS Week is the perfect time to recognize EMS and all that its practitioners do for our nation.

Each year our healthcare partners at VCU Medical Center, HCA Virginia, and Bon Secours Health System host events and meals throughout the week for EMS workers across the area. We’re incredibly grateful for their hospitality and for their recognition of the important work our EMS employees do as they serve the City of Richmond.