The critical role of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) which serves as a link between the scene of an emergency and the health care system will be highlighted during a week of activities from May 19 to 25.

Emergency Medical Technician Supervisor, Ms. Tashima Barzey said the focus of the week is to showcase the processes and educate the community on how they can assist the medical technicians in enhancing the services they provide.

Ms. Barzey said Emergency Medical Technicians provide out of hospital emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical services system.

She said, “We are here to help the community.  We meet people on the worst day of their lives and we bring hope and help to them.”

Ms. Barzey urged the public to do its part in assisting the medical technicians to do their job more effectively by adhering to ambulance sirens.  “When you hear the sirens it means that we are responding to an emergency call,” she said, adding, “We want you to pull over to the closest side of the road to allow the passage of the ambulance. We also want you to remember that when you call for ambulance services, you will be asked to provide your name, precise directions to the address and information like how many persons are injured, the extent of their injuries and a contact number.”

The EMS week will begin with a Church Service at the Church of God of Prophecy Huntum’s Ghut on Sunday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m., and an Opening Ceremony on Monday, May 20 at 10:00 a.m. in the Lobby of the New Peebles Hospital.  A bowling and domino tournament will also be held at Save the Seed from Tuesday May 21 to Thursday May 23 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The week of activities will culminate with a Benefit Jam on Friday, May 24 at the Vault in Long Bush from 10:00 p.m.

“We want the community to support the Benefit Jam as we will be raising funds to outfit the EMS Service for the New Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda,” Ms. Barzey said. Admission is $15 before midnight.

Emergency Medical Services Week will be observed under the theme ‘EMS Strong: Beyond the Call’.

Persons can tune into ZBVI on May 14 and 16 at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about EMS Week and lifesaving information that everyone should know about.

BVI Health Services Authority is committed to delivering excellent, compassionate, client centered healthcare across the Territory.