Governor Terry Branstad is signing a proclamation today designating next week–May 18th through the 24th–as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week.

It seems like a fitting time to celebrate such a week given what the past few days have been like in Guthrie County following the Mother’s Day tornadoes.  Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf discusses what EMS volunteers from around the county have meant to him this week and what they mean to him all year round.

“None of our communities can provide the services that they do without the Emergency Medical Services volunteers and volunteers in general.  We just went through National Volunteer Week here about a month ago, and these people they give us their time, they give us their family’s time and uhh… things wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Kempf says he will be sending out information and press releases throughout next week to help the public understand just how much EMS personnel and volunteers do in our communities on a daily basis.

According to a joint release from the Governor’s Office and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), there are nearly 12,000 EMS providers in the state of Iowa.  Last year alone, those providers responded to more than 244,000 emergency calls, which resulted in more than 207,000 patients being transported to the hospital for treatment.