EMS Staff from Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad (HLES) and students of St. Mary of the Lakes School in Medford partnered to celebrate EMS Week beginning on May 15.
The observance dedicated to honor emergency personnel began in 1974 under President Gerald Ford. This year, its theme was “Rising to the Challenge,” and each day had a different emphasis, including May 15’s focus on health, wellness and resilience, and Save a Life Day on May 19.
The idea came from Mary Phuangthong, an EMT with the Hampton Lakes squad who is also a teacher’s assistant at St. Mary. According to Eamonn Fitzpatrick-Ruth, emergency management coordinator for the squad, Phuangthong wanted to help educate her students about the importance of the EMS. She also showcased for the students what she does outside of the classroom as an EMT herself.
Fitzpatrick-Ruth wanted to collaborate with the school for the EMS celebration.
“We look for any opportunity to interact with the public outside of emergencies to help build a rapport and understand what EMS is,” he said
Hampton Lakes’ squad member Thomas Keenan also spoke at the school and second and eighth grade students got a tour of the squad’s ambulance, a 2006 Ford E450 with the number 1781.
Fitzpatrick-Ruth noted why collaborating with the school and the young students is so important to spreading useful knowledge since children often go home and share their experiences with family and friends.
“It is seldom that we interact with the school-age population,” he noted. “Middle-school kids are very impressionable and curious, especially about emergency services, and always have a great time learning about EMS and seeing the trucks. It is the infectious personalities of children that can truly help to spark public engagement.”
In looking to the future, Fitzpatrick-Ruth noted the struggles the EMS faces now and hopes to continue spreading the word about its importance to all ages in the community.
“There is currently a nationwide EMS crisis, and one of the main issues facing EMS today is the lack of membership, both career and volunteer,” he said. “We hope that our interactions will help raise awareness and spark interest in the EMS field.”
For more information, visit https://www.southamptonnj.org/public_safety/emergency_squads.php
