[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9890 of May 17, 2019

Emergency Medical Services Week, 2019

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During Emergency Medical Services Week, we pay tribute to our Nation's
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers, whose selfless dedication
and extraordinary efforts help save countless lives each day. As the
first link to emergency medical care, EMS personnel are a critical
component of our healthcare system. Day or night, faithful EMS first
responders--many of whom are volunteers--intensively prepare for and
stand at the ready to help their fellow Americans through chaotic and
distressing situations.
In the last year, our Nation has experienced some of the largest and
most destructive wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and mudslides in
recent history. In places like California, Florida, Alabama, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and other parts of our
country, EMS providers have selflessly performed their duties under
challenging and hazardous conditions. At the risk of their own safety
and well-being, EMS personnel acted quickly to deliver critical
assistance. They moved residents who were homebound, hospitalized, or in
nursing homes out of harm's way before and during natural disasters, and
provided medical care for thousands of displaced citizens for weeks
after the disasters.
As President, I will never lose sight of the vital contributions that
our country's emergency responders make to their fellow citizens. My
Administration remains committed to working with State and local
partners to ensure that EMS personnel are fully trained and prepared to
meet the needs of their communities. Many rural EMS agencies, in
particular, face unique challenges in delivering quality care. Last
year, I signed into law the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, which
reauthorizes funding for EMS agencies in rural areas of our country to
access the training and equipment they need to perform their duties
safely, effectively, and efficiently. To allow EMS providers additional
flexibility, the Department of Health and Human Services recently
announced the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport model for care
delivery. This model is designed to allow ambulatory care providers to
be compensated in innovative ways through Medicare when responding to
emergency medical calls from beneficiaries.
First responders also continue to be at the forefront of dealing with
the terrible effects of the opioid crisis, routinely responding to
situations where someone has fallen victim to an opioid overdose. The
Office of National Drug Control Policy has released extensive guidance
on how emergency providers can stay safe when tending to opioid-related
events. Additionally, my Administration has taken steps to expand the
supply of life-saving naloxone to first responders nationwide. We must

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ensure that our EMS personnel have the necessary training and resources
to help those who tragically end up in dire need due to opioid
overdoses.
In every circumstance, and in crises where every second counts, EMS
providers demonstrate courage and devotion to saving lives. They protect
the health and safety of others with unmatched skill and extraordinary
resolve. This month, and always, we express our endless gratitude and
respect to the fine men and women of our country's EMS agencies for
their continued commitment to excellence in emergency care.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 19 through May 25,
2019, as Emergency Medical Services Week. I encourage all Americans to
observe this occasion by showing their support for local EMS
professionals through appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
third.
DONALD J. TRUMP