PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the guiding principal of Stratford EMS is to provide quality patient care and safe emergency transportation to the sick and injured of our community; and

WHEREAS, Stratford Emergency Medical Service responded to its first call on December 17, 1977; and

WHEREAS, since that date, Stratford EMS has continued the tradition of providing lifesaving emergency medical care to the residents of Stratford 24 hours a day seven days a week; and

WHEREAS, Stratford EMS responds to approximately 5,000 calls every year; and

WHEREAS, Stratford EMS was one of the first services in the nation to adopt and use semi-automatic external defibrillators; and

WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Service teams consist of emergency physicians, emergency nurses, medical response technicians, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, educators, administrators and others; and

WHEREAS, emergency medical providers engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills; and

WHEREAS, in 1996 Stratford EMS became the first volunteer paramedic service in New England; and

WHEREAS, in 1997 Stratford EMS established one of the nation's first medical bike units; and

WHEREAS, Stratford EMS charters Explorer Post 4911, an emergency medical services-oriented youth organization, that affords young men and women between the ages of 14 and 21 the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the fields of emergency medicine and emergency services, rescue, business administration, and fund raising.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, James R. Miron, Mayor, do hereby proclaim the week of May 17, 2009 to May 23, 2009 as

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK

in the Town of Stratford and encourage the townspeople to join me in recognizing the efforts and achievements of the many volunteers who have contributed to the Stratford EMS.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Town of Stratford this 17th day of May A.D. 2009.

Mayor James R. Miron