Angela Madden, Michigan EMS Heroes on the Front Lines

Angela Madden, executive director of the MI Association of Ambulance Services. Michigan EMS Heroes on the Front Lines Deserve Extra Recognition During EMS Week. Nearly 29,000 EMS heroes provide life-saving care across Michigan

Lansing, Michigan – Michigan’s EMS heroes working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic deserve the utmost gratitude, especially during EMS Week, the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services stressed today.

“EMS practitioners have been forced to adapt during this healthcare crisis, putting their own safety at risk in order to care for their communities,” said MAAS Executive Director Angela Madden. “Especially this year, EMS heroes deserve our ultimate gratitude during EMS Week for the lifesaving services they are providing to Michigan residents.”

National EMS Week, which this year is May 17-22, comes as daily life for EMS personnel has changed dramatically due to the pandemic. EMS providers have put extra protective measures and disinfecting protocols in place to safely care for patients in emergency situations, whether they are related to COVID-19 or not.

While EMS has remained on the front lines during the pandemic, agencies have seen a reduction of up to 50 percent of emergency calls, frequently due to fear of contracting the virus. Michigan’s EMS providers have encouraged residents not to avoid calling 9-1-1 when experiencing any type of medical emergency, as every minute counts in a health emergency.

Michigan has 28,820 EMS providers, 812 life support agencies and more than 3,867 licensed life support vehicles, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness.

The Michigan Association of Ambulance Services represents ambulance services across the state. MAAS members serve 67 percent of Michigan counties and were responsible for more than 700,000 or 56 percent of ambulance transports in the state in 2018. MAAS members provide emergency, non-emergency and specialty care services throughout Michigan. For more information, visit www.miambulance.org.