JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – More often than not, they’re the first ones you see in the event of an emergency.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is being celebrated during this week, the 46th annual celebration of the important work EMS practitioners and first responders do in our nation’s communities. The week was authorized in 1974 by President Gerald Ford.

Andrew Berkey is the Operations Manager for Ringdahl EMS in Jamestown.

Berkey says for Jamestown, they are an ALS service meaning they have full-time paramedics on standby in the event of an emergency call.

Some communities aren’t fortunate enough to have that and rely solely on volunteers.

Berkey says funding is also something that EMS relies on to continue.

In the way of COVID-19, Berkey added that while they are continually on the front line and adapting to the situations it provides, he thinks it’s helped shine a light on the importance of EMS in our communities.

Berkey says this week, Jamestown EMS is launching its own, independent training program. He says this will allow them to train more EMTs and paramedics for not just Jamestown, but hopefully services in the surrounding area.

This year, five days of EMS Week have a theme to represent the diverse nature of EMS:

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

You can listen to a full Let’s Talk About It with Andrew Berkey below: