EMS Prevention

EMS Week is May 18-24, 2025

This marks the 51st anniversary of National EMS Week.  EMS Week celebrates the paramedics, EMTs and other EMS professionals who work diligently to care for their patients and serve their communities in times of crisis.

The History of EMS Week

In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS professionals and the important work they do in our nation's communities.  National Emergency Medical Services 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 frontline.

Helmet Safety

Helmets should be worn during every ride, no matter how short since many accidents happen close to home. Check out this safety video demonstrating the difference a helmet can make!

Window Safety

Screens are designed to keep bugs out, not to keep people in. Annually, more than 5,000 children go to emergency rooms after falling from windows and on average, eight children die from their injuries. Window falls are preventable if parents are armed with the right information. Check out the following safety tips:

  • Never leave young children unattended near open windows.
  • Keep furniture or anything that a child can climb on away from windows.
  • Do not depend on screens to prevent falls, they are not designed for this purpose.
  • Repair broken windows as soon as possible.
  • Open windows from the top, not the bottom.
  • Install child safety devices on windows, be sure to install window guards on all second and third story windows.

Learn more about window safety from the Hannah Geneser Foundation.

CPR

Performing CPR in the first few minutes after someone collapses due to cardiac arrest doubles the person's chances of survival. Most people who experience cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location die because they don't receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene. If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of any tune that is 100 to 120 beats per minute, such as the classic disco song "Stayin' Alive". Learn the two simple steps to save a life by watching this video from the American Heart Association:

Stroke Recognition

By learning and sharing the F.A.S.T. warning signs, you just might save a life from stroke. Think FAST to recognize stroke symptoms and call 911!

  • Face Drooping
  • Arm Weakness
  • Speech Difficulty
  • Time to Call 911

Learn more about stroke recognition.

Securing Furniture

Get on top of it before they do! We can't stop our toddlers from climbing. We can stabilize the things they climb on.

  • All TVs should be firmly mounted to a wall or a piece of furniture.
  • Dressers, bookcases, mirrors, and other pieces of furniture should be secured to the wall, preferably with dry-wall screws into a stud.
  • Avoid storing tempting electronics such as iPads, DVDs, and TVs / remotes on or above furniture you don't want your kids to climb on.

Learn more from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Poisoning Prevention

Many common medications and vitamins look like candy to children. Take a quiz from the Missouri Poison Center to see if you can identify which are medications and which are candy.

Drowning Prevention

Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in U.S. children 1 to 4 years of age and the third leading cause of unintentional injury death among U.S. children and adolescents 5 to 19 years of age. Drowning can happen in swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, bathtubs, natural bodies of water such as ponds, and standing water in homes. Tips to prevent drowning:

  • Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted.
  • Empty tubs, buckets, containers, and kids' pools immediately after use. Close lids and doors.
  • Install fences around home pools.
  • Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills.

Learn more about drowning prevention from the American Academy of Pediatrics.