--- title: Celebrating National EMS Week with Safety Tips description: EMS workers never know what their day will hold, with each shift bringing the possibility of something new and dangerous. image: https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/celebrating-national-ems-week-with-safety-tips.png --- [![dark-header.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hub/212347/file-1107077240.jpg?width=940&name=file-1107077240.jpg "dark-header.jpg")](https://www.sscor.com/) ## **Thank you for visiting the SSCOR Blog.** Whether you're in a Hospital or EMS setting, this is the place for you. We'll share information on current industry news, tips, as well as the latest and greatest in SSCOR products. Our hope is that this blog is not only informative but a collaborative and open forum for you to share your thoughts on developing opportunities and challenges within your profession. Subscribe. Share your thoughts. Enjoy. -SSCOR Team   # [Celebrating National EMS Week with Safety Tips](https://blog.sscor.com/celebrating-national-ems-week-with-safety-tips) Posted by [Sam D. Say](https://blog.sscor.com/author/sam-d-say) May 16, 2022 6:00:00 AM 3 min read - [![LinkedIn Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2628248555-png/images/icons/linkedin-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/celebrating-national-ems-week-with-safety-tips#) 0 - [![Facebook Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2623658044-png/images/icons/fb-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/celebrating-national-ems-week-with-safety-tips#) 0 ![celebrating-national-ems-week-with-safety-tips](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/celebrating-national-ems-week-with-safety-tips.png?width=848&name=celebrating-national-ems-week-with-safety-tips.png)   Although it’s something we should do year-round, we’re coming up on an especially notable time to say “thank you” to EMS workers.    May 15 to 21 will mark the 47th annual [National EMS Week](https://www.naemt.org/initiatives/ems-week). Started in 1974, it is meant to celebrate the work EMS practitioners perform in communities throughout the country — and that’s a celebration we certainly welcome.     While most of the attention in EMS jobs is placed on patient care, understandably, it’s also important for EMS workers to recognize and care for their own health and safety, so they can be in the best condition to perform. See below for tips provided in our blogs over the years for a refresher on how EMS personnel can look after themselves:   [**Is Your Pre-Shift Workflow Optimized for Safety?**](https://blog.sscor.com/is-your-pre-shift-workflow-optimized-for-safety)   EMS workers never know what their day will hold, with each shift bringing the possibility of something new — and dangerous. Optimizing pre-shift workflows helps EMS workers prepare for various scenarios, prevent on-the-job injuries, improve immunological defense and ensure a longer, safer career.   Based on a study by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians and the American Council on Exercise, the two organizations came up with some recommended steps for improving health among EMS practitioners (see the article linked above for more):   - Improve job-related physical capacity  - Adopt regular physical ability assessments that gauge waist circumference, standing posture, core function, stability and mobility  - Follow general exercise guidelines that focus on flexibility, upper-body strength and improved mobility    [**4 Ways to Enhance Ambulance Safety**](https://blog.sscor.com/4-ways-to-enhance-ambulance-safety)   While it’s important to focus on the medical emergency at hand when transporting a patient via ambulance, attention should also be placed on the safety of EMS personnel. With the vehicle fatality rate of first responders sitting at [almost five times the national average](https://www.arnolditkin.com/blog/motor-vehicle-accidents/statistics-on-emergency-vehicle-accidents-in-the/), ambulance safety requires proactive steps to minimize risk in the event of a crash.    The article linked above explains the 2014 Society of Automotive Engineers safety standards, how they apply to ambulances and the role they play in minimizing risk during a crash. Pay special attention to the note on security equipment and check out [SSCOR’s mount options](https://www.sscor.com/onboard_suction_sscor_board).    [**Safety Tips for EMS Personnel**](https://blog.sscor.com/safety-tips-for-ems-personnel)** **   Due to the sometimes dangerous and demanding job conditions, EMS workers have an injury rate [higher than the general workforce](https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2017-194/pdfs/2017-194.pdf), with the four most common types of injuries suffered being:   - Body motion injuries  - Exposure to harmful substances - Slips, trips and falls - Motor vehicle accidents   Check out the article linked above to learn about preventative measures that reduce the risk for each type of injury.    **Staying Safe**   Being an EMS worker can be an extremely rewarding job, but it can also be dangerous and physically demanding. It’s important to place the proper attention on your own health so you can enjoy a long and fulfilling career that’s free of injury. Staying up to date with the [SSCOR blog](https://blog.sscor.com/) and especially current safety guidelines and recommendations are effective ways to prolong your career and remain physically healthy.   Once again, we offer a big thanks to our EMS partners ahead of National EMS Week — and during every other week of the year, too. We hope our portable suction solutions play a role in making your job easier and we’ll continue to develop the tools you need to succeed.     [![free_guide_ultimate_guide_to_purchasing_portable_emergency_suction_device](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/d3d8b8b5-aec9-4dbf-a2cc-e419325ff046.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/d3d8b8b5-aec9-4dbf-a2cc-e419325ff046) Topics: [ambulance safety](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ambulance-safety) ![Author Photo](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SDS2-648378-edited.jpg?width=70&name=SDS2-648378-edited.jpg) ## AboutSam D. Say Sam D. Say is owner and CEO of SSCOR, Inc., a medical device manufacturer specializing in emergency battery operated portable suction devices for the hospital and pre-hospital settings. Mr. Say has been involved in developing product for healthcare providers for over 35 years. His passions include contributing to the management of the patient airway and providing solutions that save lives in difficult conditions. Search #### Most Popular Articles ### Post by Topic - [Medical Suction (103)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction) - [Airway management (102)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/airway-management) - [Emergency Preparedness (92)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emergency-preparedness) - [Emergency medical suction (73)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emergency-medical-suction) - [Portable suction for hospitals (34)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/portable-suction-for-hospitals) - [EMS suction (27)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ems-suction) - [Handheld portable suction (26)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/handheld-portable-suction) - [Suction for EMS professionals (24)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/suction-for-ems-professionals) - [Respiratory (19)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/respiratory) - [medical scenarios (17)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-scenarios) - [portable suction (16)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/portable-suction) - [Battery-powered suction (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/battery-powered-suction) - [EMS Professionals (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ems-professionals) - [airway obstruction (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/airway-obstruction) - [Hospital disaster preparation (14)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/hospital-disaster-preparation) - [respiratory assessment (13)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/respiratory-assessment) - [Intubation (10)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/intubation) - [Pediatric Suction (10)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/pediatric-suction) - [Medical Suction for Dental (9)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction-for-dental) - [Tactical trauma kit (7)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/tactical-trauma-kit) - [Crash Cart Supplies (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/crash-cart-supplies) - [Trauma (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/trauma) - [emt scenarios (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emt-scenarios) - [Diseases & Infections (5)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/diseases-infections) - [aspiration pneumonia (5)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/aspiration-pneumonia) - [Aspiration (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/aspiration) - [Patient Transport (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/patient-transport) - [ambulance safety (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ambulance-safety) - [Anaphylaxis (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/anaphylaxis) - [Suction Catheter (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/suction-catheter) - [nasotracheal intubation (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/nasotracheal-intubation) - [CDC (2)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/cdc) - [Medical Suction for Drowning (2)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction-for-drowning) - [Tactical medical bag (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/tactical-medical-bag) - [medical devices (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-devices) - [rapid sequence intubation (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/rapid-sequence-intubation) [see all](https://blog.sscor.com/celebrating-national-ems-week-with-safety-tips#) [![subscribe_to_sscor_blog](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/1209b5e9-2bd5-461c-9673-0f13ab98cab8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/1209b5e9-2bd5-461c-9673-0f13ab98cab8) [![Aspirator_test_kit_sscor_suction](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/09b997f8-6c33-450c-9e98-6ea0f907f383.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/09b997f8-6c33-450c-9e98-6ea0f907f383) [![determining_contents_of_first_in_bag_guide_for_paramedics](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/03d28100-2a96-4c68-93d1-3e06a3b91cad.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/03d28100-2a96-4c68-93d1-3e06a3b91cad) - [![DUET-B-Front-370px](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DUET-B-Front-370px.png "DUET-B-Front-370px")](https://www.sscor.com/duet_suction_unit_retention_bracket_portable_aspirator) - [![Duet Bracket Back with bracket](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DUETBB-back-370px.png "Duet Bracket Back with bracket")](https://www.sscor.com/duet_suction_unit_retention_bracket_portable_aspirator) - [![S-SCORT III Front](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/S-SCORT3-front-370px.png "S-SCORT III Front")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_iii_suction_unit) - [![S-SCORT-III3-control-panel](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/S-SCORT3-control-panel-370px.png "S-SCORT-III3-control-panel")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_iii_suction_unit) - [![VX2-B-font](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/VX2-B-font-370px.png "VX2-B-font")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_vx2_option_portable_ems_suction) - [![VX-2 Bracket Back with Bracket](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/VX2BB-Back-370px.png "VX-2 Bracket Back with Bracket")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_vx2_option_portable_ems_suction) - [![Quickdraw Front](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Quickdraw-370px.png "Quickdraw Front")](https://www.sscor.com/quickdraw_portable_suction_unit) - [![DCELL-front-angle](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DCELL-front-angle-370px.png "DCELL-front-angle")](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator) - [![DCELL-back](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DCELL-back-370px.png "DCELL-back")](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator) ### Follow us on social media: ## SSCOR Clearing The Airway Is Our #1 Priority **Company** [SSCOR Website](https://www.sscor.com/index.html) [About Us](https://www.sscor.com/who_are_we.html) [Contact Us](https://www.sscor.com/sales_support.html)   **Resources** [FAQ](https://www.sscor.com/Frequently-Asked-Questions.html) [Technical Support](https://www.sscor.com/technical-product-support.html) **Updates** [Upcoming Events](https://www.sscor.com/upcoming_events.html) *All data and information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. SSCOR, Inc. makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.* Images and content of this blog are © 2023 SSCOR, Inc. All rights reserved.