Press Release

• Tweet

Monday, May 15, 2017

Contra Costa Health Services' Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) will kick off national EMS Week - and commemorate 40 years of paramedic services - with a barbecue for all first responders on May 22, 2017.

National EMS Week is held annually to promote public safety and honor the frontline workers who provide lifesaving emergency medical services in the community each day.

"We're proud to be celebrating 40 years of providing access to quality emergency care to our community. We provide a vital service that saves lives and improves quality of life for county residents," said Patricia Frost, CCEMS Director.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of paramedic services in Contra Costa. In 1977, the first local ambulances were deployed with paramedics, providing advanced life support services as part of a new county program established through the federal Emergency Medical Services Systems Act.

During this same year Contra Costa's trauma program was implemented, with John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek designated as a Level II trauma center by the county Board of Supervisors.

"Today Contra Costa supports one of the largest EMS systems in California. We are an integrated system of private and public emergency responders and healthcare providers that include ambulance personnel, firefighters, dispatchers, police, air ambulance and hospitals and we all work in harmony to save lives," Frost said.

CCEMS is recognized in the state as a leader in providing exceptional clinical care by promoting specialty systems of care to reduce the loss of life. In the last 10 years CCEMS has implemented a high-risk heart attack (STEMI) system, stroke system and cardiac arrest system of care.

"We want our staff and partners to know they are appreciated and that we could not do this work without them," said Frost.

Monday's barbecue will be held at the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District training center in Concord and is open to all EMS personnel past and present, including firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), dispatchers, hospital emergency department staffers, law enforcement partners. We are honored to have our local mayors, city council members and county supervisors as special guests at this event.

Note to editors: If you'd like to cover the celebration in Concord on Monday, May 22, contact Michelle Voos at 925-313-9547 or Michelle.Voos@hsd.cccounty.us by Friday, May 19.

# # #