On November 4, 1974, President Gerald Ford (R-MI) designated the first week of November as “EMS Appreciation Week” in an effort to recognize and give back to the emergency medical services (EMS) personnel throughout the country. In 1992, EMS Appreciation Week was moved to the third week of May.
For the fiftieth anniversary of the bill-signing, Suffolk leaders sought to do the same this year. The bill, Resolution 1453-2024, sponsored by Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) intends to “celebrate, acknowledge, and thank” the EMS workers and volunteers for the “lifesaving work they do every day,” according to the bill’s legislative intent.
The bill’s intent also states that the COVID-19 Pandemic has made “all Americans aware of the courage and incredible sacrifice made by EMS providers nationwide.”
The legislation was co-sponsored by Legislators Chad Lennon (R-Rocky Point), Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead), Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), and Deputy Presiding Officer Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters).
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) signed the bill into law Monday morning at South Country Ambulance in Bellport. Legislators Dominick Thorne, Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches), Chad Lennon, Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station), and Brookhaven Town Councilman Mike Loguercio (R-Ridge) were also present.
“This morning’s bill signing is a recognition of the invaluable lifesaving service and care provided by the men and women in the county’s organizations,” said Romaine. “By declaring the third week in May as “EMS Appreciation Week” in Suffolk, we acknowledge and express our gratitude for the lifesaving dedication of our first responders.”
The Messenger discussed the intentions behind the bill with Legislator Thorne.
“It brings to light the actual work that EMS workers do,” said Thorne. “These are highly trained, New York State-certified ACLS providers who leave their houses year long to continue training and make sure that they have proper certification to leave their homes, holidays, dinners, or backyard parties to help a stranger.”
Thorne, who is Chair of the Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Committee and a former EMS professional, says that the County needs to illuminate the sheer amount of work that EMS personnel carry.
“We have to start shining light on what the workload is here. Last year, our EMS workers from ninety-three EMS agencies across the County responded to 172,000 calls,” said Thorne. “Yet, some people think it’s an ancillary service. EMS Appreciation Week recognizes them, but it’s just the beginning of that process.”
Thorne also says that while the County still intends to increase the number of EMS workers, as he says that they “always need more help,” it’s the County’s prerogative to express gratitude, first and foremost.
“Retention and recruitment are very important, but how do you ask someone to volunteer when you don’t even have the courtesy to say ‘thank you?’” said Thorne. “These volunteers handle everything from scraped knees to cardiac arrest, to delivering newborns in the back of an ambulance, to multi-trauma patients. They’re all New York State-certified technicians and ACLS-certified technicians. That’s an amazing combination. So, we want to make sure we recognize them here in the County in perpetuity.”
Thorne also specifically mentioned the services of South Country Ambulance, stating that as soon as calls are placed, “two ambulances and an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Truck are on the road right away.”
Finally, Thorne says that in light of President Ford’s signing of EMS Appreciation Week a half-century ago, it’s overdue for Suffolk County to take up an initiative of its own.
“Fifty years after President Ford signed the proclamation, we are finally going to say thank you,” said Thorne. “And this is my goal as the Fire Rescue Chair, to make sure we build up our volunteers and do an outstanding job. Nobody is as good as our volunteers out here, and nobody is more professional or higher-certified than our folks here in Suffolk County.”
The bill signing was also attended by Suffolk County Health Services Commissioner Gregson Pigott, as well as members of over twenty EMS agencies from across the County, ranging from Huntington to Montauk.
