EMS Week

In tonight’s Making a Difference, we are highlighting, Emergency Medical Services week. We sat down with last years, “firefighter of the year” to

Aaron Wonders, a San Diego native, moved to Yuma with his family five years ago. He has spent the last 20 years saving people’s lives whether it be in the ocean as a lifeguard or as a firefighter paramedic in Yuma. He attributes his love of people and the outdoors as the reason why he chose this profession. In honor of people like Aaron, May 20th through the 26th is EMS week. It’s an annual observation to honor those that work in the emergency medical field. It’s in its 44th year and the theme this year is “EMS Strong: Stronger Together”.

“We provide the highest level of care on an emergency medical scene to the patient. We carry a drug box with 20 plus medications in it and we have a heart monitor where we’re able to analyze electrical rhythms of the heart. We can speed a heart up, we can slow a heart down, we can shock a heart out of a unhealthy rhythm and bring it back to life. This stuff really exists and happens and it’s life saving.”

Thursday, an award ceremony is taking place at 5:30pm at the council chambers of city hall, where a proclamation will be read regarding emergency medical services week. Paramedics, emergency medical technicians and several other EMS positions will be honored.