In recognition of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, 19-25 May, the Health Services Authority EMS providers exhibited this year’s theme “Beyond the Call” by taking the initiative to educate community members on how they can potentially save a life prior to the arrival of EMS.

For EMS Week, the medical first responders hosted safety sessions throughout the island, teaching members of the public hands-only CPR, how to stop bleeding and the importance and proper usage of car seats through hands-on demonstrations.

“Each session’s turnout was excellent. It’s reassuring to know that people are interested in learning and being more proactive about life-saving practices,” said EMS Manager Stephen Duval. “CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival and Hands-Only CPR, when executed correctly, can be just as effective as conventional CPR. A person can die in 5-10 minutes due to uncontrolled bleeding. The stop the bleed training our team demonstrated can save a life. Using the correct car seat or booster seat can also be a lifesaver. We wanted to reemphasise the importance of basic car seat safety and ensure that all children are buckled up the right way on every ride.”

Safety sessions were held at Hurley’s Market, Foster’s Food Fair (Airport), Tukka and Eagle Ray’s Bar & Grill on 21-22 May. In addition to the public sessions, the EMS team hosted an EMS Recognition Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on Friday, 24 May at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort to honor their colleagues and stakeholders in emergency care. In attendance were past and present members of the Cayman Islands EMS, their families, the Minister for Health Hon. Dwayne Seymour, HSA Chief Executive Officer Lizzette Yearwood and representatives of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Cayman Islands Fire Service, Cayman Islands Red Cross, Department of Public Safety Communications and Rotary Central Cayman Islands.

All EMS staff were presented with certificates of appreciation. Special awards for outstanding service went to Kendal Connor, Michael Blackburn, Alvaro Obando and David Hurlston of Cayman Brac. David “Jayse” Wilson was awarded “EMS Officer of the Year”.

“We honor our EMS providers, whose selfless devotion and outstanding efforts help save countless lives each year,” HSA CEO Ms Yearwood said. “As the first link to emergency medical care, EMS personnel are a crucial component of our healthcare system. This month, and always, we express our unending gratitude and respect to the fine men and women of our EMS staff for their continued dedication to excellence in emergency care.”