IAFF Honors EMS Personnel Amid Historic Challenges

May 16, 2022

EMS Week is a time to recognize and celebrate emergency responders serving on the frontlines against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest and the ongoing opioid epidemic.

(Washington, DC) – From May 15 to 22, as part of EMS Week, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) will recognize the important role emergency medical service (EMS) providers play in keeping their communities safe, particularly during these challenging times.

Trained to respond to any emergency, emergency responders have faced the added challenges of working on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, on-the-job attacks and widespread opioid abuse.

This additional stress can take a heavy toll on EMS workers both physically and mentally, and the IAFF is committed honoring their work and keeping them safe.

“Our EMS members have been on the first line of defense during the pandemic, putting their lives on the line to provide expert care,” says IAFF General President Edward Kelly. “We owe them not just our gratitude but our commitment to do all that we can to keep them safe and healthy on the job.

Throughout the week, the IAFF will remember the members who lost their lives to COVID-19, as well as highlight the role EMS providers have played protecting communities during numerous events of civil unrest and address the impact of the pandemic and other events on the behavioral health of EMS personnel.

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About the International Association of Fire Fighters

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the driving force behind nearly every advance in the fire and emergency services in the 21st century. With headquarters in Washington, DC, and Ottawa, Ontario, the IAFF represents more than 324,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics in more than 3,500 affiliates. IAFF members protect more than 85 percent of the population in communities throughout the United States and Canada. The IAFF is also one of the most active lobbying organizations in Washington, DC. The IAFF Political Action Committee, FIREPAC, is among the top one-half of one percent of all federally registered PACs in the country. Learn more at www.iaff.org.