R 315
2025 -- S 1074
Enacted 05/15/2025

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N
COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF "NATIONAL EMS WEEK" ON MAY 18-24, 2025, IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senator Gordon E. Rogers

Date Introduced: May 14, 2025

     WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) encompasses an entire field of
emergency care and medical assistance providers that are activated by an incident that potentially
causes serious illness or injury, and is a vital and essential public service; and
     WHEREAS, At the start of 2023, there were 5,333 licensed EMS practitioners in 83 EMS
agencies in Rhode Island; and
     WHEREAS, The skilled members of these emergency medical services teams are always
ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and
     WHEREAS, Access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and
recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and
     WHEREAS, Emergency medical services has grown to fill a gap by providing important,
out-of-hospital care, including preventative medicine, follow-up care, and access to telemedicine;
and
     WHEREAS, The members of emergency medical services teams, whether career or
volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to
enhance their lifesaving skills; and
     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has five licensed levels of EMS practitioners, Emergency
Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency
Medical Technician (AEMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician-Cardiac (AEMT-C),
and Paramedic; and
     WHEREAS, The emergency medical services system consists of first responders,
emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police
officers, educators, administrators, pre-hospital nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians,
trained members of the public, and other out-of-hospital medical care providers; and
     WHEREAS, The 2025 theme for National EMS Week is “We Care. For Everyone.” This
theme recognizes and celebrates the contributions of EMS professionals, including EMT’s,
paramedics, and first responders who dedicate their lives to saving lives and providing critical
care; and
     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby commemorates
“National EMS Week” and encourages all Rhode Islanders recognize the contributions of EMS
professionals and the essential service they provide to our communities; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Marc R. Pappas, Director of the Rhode Island
Emergency Management Agency.
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LC002578
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