Ems Week 2017 Appreciation Offers Discounts And Community Recognition

National EMS Week, observed May 18-24, 2017, provided an opportunity for communities across the United States to recognize and appreciate the vital work of emergency medical services professionals. With the theme "We Care. For Everyone.," the week highlighted the essential role that EMTs and paramedics play in saving lives and supporting communities during emergencies. While the official celebration focused on awareness and appreciation, various organizations and businesses offered special recognition and discounts for these first responders, alongside other free promotions available to the general public during that time period.

Understanding EMS Week 2017

National EMS Week, established by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) in partnership with the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), serves as a dedicated period to acknowledge the contributions of EMS professionals. The 2017 celebration followed a structured schedule of themed days, each focusing on different aspects of EMS work and community engagement:

• Sunday – Health, Wellness and Resilience Day
• Monday – EMS Education Day
• Tuesday – Safety Tuesday
• Wednesday – EMS for Children Day
• Thursday – Save-A-Life Day (CPR & Stop the Bleed)
• Friday – EMS Recognition Day
• Saturday – EMS Remembrance Day

Each theme day provided specific opportunities for education, recognition, and community involvement. The week aimed not only to thank EMS personnel for their service but also to educate the public about the critical role of emergency medical services in communities nationwide.

Ways to Celebrate EMS Week

For community groups, schools, and individuals, EMS Week offered numerous avenues to show appreciation for paramedics and EMTs. Some suggested methods included writing thank you notes or dropping off food items at local EMS agencies. Community organizations were encouraged to reach out to their local EMS agencies to determine what would be most appreciated and to coordinate appropriate times for drop-offs and potential meet-and-greets with crew members.

Many communities associate EMS primarily with fire stations, but it's important to recognize that private ambulance services also operate in many areas, with their paramedics and EMTs providing essential community care. These private services often benefit from similar appreciation efforts during EMS Week.

EMS agencies themselves had numerous options for celebrating their workforce during the special week. Some agencies hired food trucks to offer local specialties, often hosting events on separate days to accommodate different shifts. Others provided grab-and-go boxed lunches or healthy snacks such as fruit, nuts, and berries. Family fun events proved popular, with children's entertainers hired to put on special shows or lead activities that the children of EMS personnel would enjoy.

Recognition of outstanding employees formed another important aspect of EMS Week celebrations. Agencies implemented EMT and Paramedic of the Year Award programs, often soliciting nominations from employees and announcing winners during the week. Some organizations, like Sunstar Paramedics, took their gratitude public by purchasing billboards to thank practitioners for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Creative celebration ideas included T-shirt design contests, where employees submitted EMS-themed designs and voted for their favorites, with the winning designs printed on T-shirts distributed as EMS Week gifts. Some agencies hosted servant leadership days, in which agency leaders served personnel—managers washing employees' cars or serving meals. Team-building activities such as scavenger hunts or trivia contests helped create "joy in the office," with some agencies like MedStar Mobile Healthcare organizing agency-wide games of Capture the Flag that involved laughter and Nerf guns.

Educational opportunities formed another significant component of EMS Week observances. On Tuesday, EMS Safety Day, agencies invited personnel to take the NAEMT EMS Safety course. On Sunday, Health, Wellness and Resilience Day, team members were invited to take the Mental Health Resource Officers (MHRO) course. Some agencies hosted "The PPE Experience," events that gave local elected officials and reporters the chance to experience walking up flights of stairs and performing CPR while wearing full personal protective equipment.

Agencies also found meaningful ways to honor fallen EMS personnel, including planting memorial gardens for quiet reflection or making donations in their name to cherished causes. Participation in the National EMS Memorial Service, an annual event to memorialize those who died in the line of duty, provided another avenue for remembrance.

Discounts and Benefits for EMS Professionals

While EMS Week primarily focused on recognition and awareness, various businesses and organizations offered discounts and benefits specifically for first responders, including EMS professionals. These offers provided practical benefits for those working in emergency medical services.

Emergency preparedness companies showed their support for first responders through special discounts. American Family Safety offered all first responders 15% savings on preparedness supplies and survival kits. These products proved valuable for EMS professionals who needed reliable equipment for emergency situations.

Retail membership programs also extended special offers to EMS personnel. Sam's Club provided a significant appreciation gesture with special membership offers for law enforcement and other first responders. New members received either a 60% discount on a Club membership or $50 off a Sam's Club Plus membership. GOVX offered membership to all uniformed professionals, including military, police, firefighters, and EMS providers, with benefits including savings on hundreds of retail brands, exclusive sports and concert tickets, special deals on travel packages, hotels, rental cars, and theme parks.

Food and beverage companies demonstrated support for first responders through various discount programs. Fire Department Coffee, a veteran-owned company founded by firefighters, supported all first responders with a 15% discount code applicable to all purchases. Black Rifle Coffee Company, another veteran-owned and operated business, extended 25% off the first subscription to police, fire, and EMS personnel. Athletic Brewing Co. offered 10% savings on non-alcoholic beer, sparkling water, and merchandise to all first responders.

Other service providers also recognized EMS professionals with special offers. Wolf Mattress provided first responders with a 15% discount on their products, acknowledging the importance of quality rest for those in demanding emergency roles.

It's worth noting that while these discounts were available to first responders, including EMS professionals, they weren't specifically promoted as "EMS Week" specials in the source materials. Rather, they appeared to be ongoing offers available year-round to those who could verify their professional status.

To access these discounts, first responders typically needed to verify their employment status. Generally, eligibility required being employed full-time or being a retiree from a state, federal, or local law enforcement or emergency medical agency. Verification involved presenting valid proof of employment, with some merchants using third-party verification services like ID.me, VerifyPass, or SheerID.com. Some businesses sold through discount programs like ExpertVoice.

EMS professionals were advised to check their department's policies before accepting such discounts, as no discount should compromise their employment status. Volunteer eligibility varied by brand or merchant, with some organizations extending offers to volunteers while others restricted discounts to full-time employees.

Concurrent Free Offers in Early 2017

While EMS Week occurred in May 2017, various free offers and promotions were available in early 2017 that might have been of interest to EMS professionals and the communities they served. These offers provided additional value to individuals looking to maximize benefits during that time period.

Pet owners benefited from a free online microchip registration service through Found.org. This service allowed pet owners to upload details about their pets, including pictures, by providing the microchip number, which could be obtained from a veterinarian's office scan. The service even offered free microchip transfers. For those without microchipped pets, the source strongly encouraged getting them chipped, emphasizing the importance of this identification method.

Digital readers had opportunities to expand their libraries at no cost. The Seal Beach Mary Wilson Library offered free instruction on downloading free eBooks and eMagazines onto tablets, iPads, or other digital devices. The sessions, held between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 2017, taught attendees how to check out books online and read them for free.

Nature enthusiasts could take advantage of free access to national parks and monuments on Monday, January 16, 2017, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The source recommended arriving early in the morning due to the popularity of these free days. The next scheduled free day in 2017 was February 20, for Presidents Day.

Food promotions provided additional value to consumers in early 2017. The Baskin-Robbins mobile app offered a free scoop of ice cream to users who signed up for their mobile program, providing a sweet incentive for app downloads.

While these offers weren't specifically tied to EMS Week, they represented the types of free promotions and discounts available to consumers in early 2017, some of which might have been of particular interest to EMS professionals and their families.

Conclusion

National EMS Week 2017 provided a structured framework for recognizing and appreciating the vital contributions of emergency medical services professionals. With themed days focusing on different aspects of EMS work, the week offered opportunities for education, celebration, and community engagement. While the primary purpose of EMS Week was awareness and appreciation, various businesses and organizations demonstrated their support through discounts and benefits specifically designed for first responders.

These offers ranged from emergency preparedness supplies and retail memberships to food and beverage discounts, providing practical benefits for EMS professionals in their daily lives. Additionally, various free promotions available in early 2017 offered additional value to consumers, including pet microchip registration, digital library resources, national park access, and food promotions.

The recognition of EMS professionals through both formal observances like EMS Week and ongoing benefits from supporting businesses helps to highlight the essential role these individuals play in keeping communities safe and healthy. By combining formal appreciation programs with practical benefits, communities and organizations can demonstrate their gratitude for the often-challenging work performed by emergency medical services personnel.

Sources

1. NAEMT National EMS Week
2. Police1 Discounts for Law Enforcement
3. OC Register Deals of the Week