BOSTON – The 46th Annual National EMS Week wraps up Saturday, but not before 60,000 EMS professionals in Massachusetts were honored with a rolling rally that started in Worcester and ended with a special ceremony in Boston.
The “Convoy of Champions in Celebration of EMS Week,” on Wednesday included more than 50 ambulances, along with two medical helicopters, beginning at the UMass Medical Center and finishing on the warning track at Fenway Park where government, healthcare and sports leaders presented video tributes.
Lynnfield resident Dennis Cataldo, President of Cataldo Ambulance and the Massachusetts Ambulance Association, spearheaded the event.
“My inspiration for this was really that there isn’t a lot of recognition universally for EMS staff on a daily basis. They suffer a lack of full recognition in this line of work, especially this year when their services have been put in a new light with the pandemic,” said Cataldo. “So we came up with this idea to recognize all of the EMS in the state, and the idea just took off. The success of it was almost immediate and we ended up having just a great day.”
Several local communities participated in the convoy, including Lynn, Swampscott, Lynnfield, Peabody, Marblehead and Salem. Convoy vehicles lined the inside perimeter of the park. A heart-shaped cut-out was featured in center field, which was lined with EMS workers.
Cataldo said the Convoy of Champions in Celebration of EMS Week was especially significant this year because of the unprecedented response to the COVID-19 crisis from EMS professionals across the state’s medical community. Massachusetts has been among the nation’s hardest hit states by the novel coronavirus.
The on-field ceremony featured a short speaking program with Cataldo delivering the keynote address.
“It is immensely rewarding to be involved in such a fantastic celebration of our EMS professionals,” said Cataldo. “More than ever, we truly realize the importance that our emergency medical technicians, paramedics and trained communications staff have in the delivery of pre-hospital care at all levels. All too often, these trained professionals are not recognized for the role they play in the healthcare system. They deserve all of this recognition and more.”
Cataldo said that EMS professionals have been a critical resource for local healthcare providers during the pandemic, collaborating on assessment, testing, and treatment for homebound patients. He said this ability to provide supplemental support for hospitals and neighborhood health centers, in addition to providing emergency services, has truly been above and beyond.
The ceremony also featured video tributes from Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, as well as medical leaders, elected officials and sports celebrities, each praising the contributions of the state’s paramedics, EMTs and 911 communications professionals.
“EMS professionals are some of the most important players in our healthcare and public safety community. They are, in many respects, the front line and the first voice around emergencies and emergent trends and concerns,” Baker said. “You make our communities safer and stronger and our people better. You are the heroes among us and I’m glad we’ve had this chance to celebrate you during National EMS Week.”
“Everyone who works for our EMS agencies are heroes. You are always there for us, put yourselves in harm’s way and you do incredible work under tremendous pressure,” Mayor Walsh told the EMS community. “I know the incredible volumes of calls our EMS professionals respond to (in Boston) and you go above and beyond the call, always treating patients with kindness, respect and professionalism. You are role models in our communities and give our entire city a sense of reassurance. You are hardworking men and women always on the front lines. But right now your impact is even greater. You make us very proud and we certainly salute you.”
Peter Slavin, MD, President of Massachusetts General Hospital, thanked the many paramedics, EMTs, nurses, doctors, pilots and drivers, saying, “You are the heroes of this era.”
Kevin Tabb, MD, President and CEO of Beth Israel Lahey Health thanked the workers for their heroism.
“Our appreciation for the work you do is stronger than ever, ” said Tabb. “Throughout the pandemic, front line caregivers have been widely recognized for their courageous efforts.”
The event was hosted by the Boston Red Sox and organized by the Mass Ambulance Association (an association with more than 6,000 members), Municipal Ambulance Providers and Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts.
This year’s EMS Week was the 46th annual, having been created in 1974 by President Gerald Ford.
