Presidential Proclamation — Emergency Medical Services Week, 2016 #EMSWeek2016 #EMSStrong

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

May 13, 2016

Presidential Proclamation — Emergency Medical Services Week, 2016

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK, 2016

– – – – – – –

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Every day across our Nation, women and men sacrifice precious time with their loved ones, working long and hard to provide emergency medical services (EMS) to people they have never met before. Often operating in the midst of trauma and heartbreak, these professionals deliver urgent and essential care, saving lives and upholding a timeless belief that defines who we are as Americans — that we all must look out for one another. This week, we recognize the daily heroism of our EMS professionals at all levels, and we express our gratitude for their efforts to keep us healthy and safe.

Embodying the grit, compassion, and courage that has driven our Nation forward since its founding, our emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, nurses, physicians, EMS medical directors, firefighters, and law enforcement officers reflect a spirit of selflessness that makes us all strive to live up to their example. Their families stand beside them, enduring extraordinary anticipation and exercising sincere patience each day. As the steady anchors in an otherwise unpredictable daily routine, these families offer unwavering support for EMS practitioners — giving them the support and strength necessary to fulfill the demands of their unending work.

EMS providers brave danger and uncertainty, and their efforts deserve our most profound appreciation. We rarely know when tragedy will strike, and in our most vulnerable moments, we rely on these dedicated professionals. During Emergency Medical Services Week, let us celebrate and support the EMS professionals who demonstrate the values at the heart of the American spirit, and let us thank them for their heroic work.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 15 through May 21, 2016, as Emergency Medical Services Week. I encourage all Americans to observe this occasion by showing their support for their local EMS providers and taking steps to improve their own personal safety and preparedness.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.

BARACK OBAMA

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/05/13/presidential-proclamation-emergency-medical-services-week-2016

April 2016 was solid, but it’s gonna be May

April 2016 was solid, but it’s gonna be May…..

IMG_0604

Instructors Kevin Sur and Justin Timberlake. Heh.

First week, I will be instructing FEMA’s National Emergency Management Executive Academy Program at EMI specifically on Crisis Communications, Public Information Officer, and Social Media. Then heading back to Ohio to teach a basic Public Information Officer’s Course and Joint Information Center/System course (G-290/291) in Summit County. R3 and R5 = Twofer in just the first week!

Second week, I will head back north to Michigan to teach social media at Michigan State University. Then the last half of the week spent in Chicago for meetings with various public safety officials including Chicago Fire.

Third week, we have a State of Ohio Emergency Management Instructors’ Workshop at Ohio EMA in Columbus. Good chance to chat and share successes with our staff – who are all good stewards of Emergency Management. Cbus baby!

Fourth week, I will be instructing in the big DHS/FEMA 2016 National Training and Exercise Symposium at EMI. Whohoo!!! Hoping to catch up to Brian Kamoie and Doc Lumpkins again. Then jetting off to Nebraska to teach Social Media and Crisis Communications in the statewide CPESymposia. R3 and R7 in the hizzouse!

fema_regional_map

Yep, it’s a 3-5-7 kinda month – A big month indeed.

@rusnivek

 

National Telecommunicators Week 2016: April 10th – 16th

It’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2016 (April 10th-16th)!

IMG_1671

If you ever sat in a 9-1-1 call center/dispatch center, you know how difficult the job is for every one of these professionals.

NPSTWblog_Header_2016_new2

I encourage you to take a moment to thank the voice on the other end of the radio.

@rusnivek

 

Tornado siren? Today? Disaster? Emergency?!? #OHWx

Tornado siren? Today? Disaster? Emergency?!?

img_0650

On Wednesday March 23rd, 2016 at 0950 EST, communities across the state of Ohio that have tornado warning siren systems, will test them. In addition, an Emergency Alert System (EAS) warning message will be broadcast. We encourage all communities with sirens to participate in this annual event by conducting their own tornado drills and reviewing their emergency plans.

This is only a test.

@rusnivek

 

Fast paced changes this week for 1Q 2015

In Emergency Management, we try to plan for every action.

In fact, Emergency Managers are lauded for “thinking of everything” or every conceivable option.

anigif_enhanced-26213-1421266877-38

This week’s challenges have been particularly faster than others. Logistical issues as well as training issues have dominated this week’s docket.

I can’t begin to tell you how much I’m looking forward to #AlohaFriday tomorrow.

Being agile with detailed planning will be the key to maintaining this pace through 1Q 2015.

Stay warm peeps!

@rusnivek

2015 Preparedness peeps and PIO planning

For all my preparedness peeps and PIO planners out there…

10906537_768605289892826_3174054723564438150_n

Hope this makes your life tons easier.

Special thanks to the Ready.Gov team at FEMA!

@rusnivek

 

Your image on social by monitoring your name Safety-PIO-SM-14-007

14-007: Your image on social by monitoring your name
Agency: Lakewood Fire Topic(s):         Monitoring your name/branding
Date: Fall 2014 Platform:        Twitter

Monitoring your namesake has been debated for years. But with decreased staffing and less time to do more with less, many agencies are bypassing this critical piece of community relations and image/branding. A good example is when a citizen commented on Lakewood Fire’s SUV parking.

IMG_1372

Everyone has a camera these days. We use them not only to capture memories and precious moments, but also for documentation and shaming. I believe Todd was going for the public safety shaming factor here. I am unsure on the previous relationship between Todd and Lakewood, but there was never a response on Twitter back to Todd. Truth be told, these days, unanswered public questions are sometimes perceived as a government agency cover-ups/issues. Similar to the “No comment” – a non-response might even be worse.

How do you monitor your agency’s name or any derivatives? Try these free services: Google Alerts, search columns in TweetDeck or Hootsuite, or frequent basic vanity searches on any search engine or social media platforms.

While Todd’s use of hashtags is fairly standard social media malarkey, a swift response with a timely and direct reply to Todd’s tweet would help stop the perception that LFD is breaking the law or even setting a bad example. Remember, social media is about digital interaction.

The response could also be a teaching point so share with your audience some insight into your normal operations with a simple message on Fire Prevention activities – like hydrant testing. And using the hashtag #FirePrevention pulls up thousands of tweets about educating the public specifically in fire safety.

An effective @reply response to Todd’s tweet could have read:

@stwrs1974 During an emergency, it’s tough to find safe parking. FYI-we also check/flush hydrants twice a year too #FirePrevention 

By phrasing it this way:

  1. You immediately address the issue directly with the citizen citing the issue.
  2. You provide insight into scene safety during an emergency.
  3. You call attention to your normal operations (in this case-hydrant flushing).
  4. You use the hashtag #FirePrevention to call attention to…well…Fire Prevention.
  5. You show the general public you care about your image and want to get the story right.

Time is valuable, so tweet good stuff.

@rusnivek

***To download this as a single-page printable format, click this file:

YourImageOnSocialByMonitoringYourName-Safety-PIO-SM-14-007