PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (May 14, 2011) — Calvert Advanced Life Support (CALS) is kicking off emergency medical services (EMS) Week 2011 by celebrating 20 years of service to the citizens of Calvert County. EMS Week 2011 will occur from May 15 to 21.
“EMS Week 2011’s theme is ‘Everyday Heroes,’ which is a perfect description of our members,” said CALS Chief Michael Smith. “For two decades now, CALS’ all-volunteer Paramedics have been providing the highest level of pre-hospital care to the citizens of Calvert County. Our volunteer Paramedics have committed nearly two years of their spare time to become Paramedics, and routinely take time away from their families to respond to 911 calls in Calvert County.”
CALS, which began its service to Calvert County on January 1, 1991, responded to 4553 emergency calls in 2010, an average of more than 12 calls per day, making it the busiest EMS agency in Calvert County. It is on track to meet or surpass this volume in 2011.
CALS is an all-volunteer non-for-profit which does not bill its patients for services. CALS works in close partnership with local area hospitals such as Calvert Memorial Hospital, which provides medical direction for Paramedics in the field, as well as Southern Maryland Hospital Center, and, for trauma, Prince Georges Medical Center. CALS Paramedics also interact and collaborate with the Maryland State Patrol Aviation Command, which provides State Patrol helicopters for rapid emergency transportation to a far distant facility, such as a trauma center.
“Although we take special care to recognize our own members during EMS Week, we recognize that our success in providing advanced life support (ALS) to citizens of Calvert County could not be achieved were it not for the skill and expertise of Calvert County’s seven local volunteer fire and rescue departments. These partners in providing EMS care provide all basic life support services in Calvert County, and are invaluable in assisting us to provide care to ALS patients, who are among the most severely injured and ill.” Said Smith.
Calvert County is the only county left in Maryland where all EMS responders, both BLS and ALS, are volunteers. “We are extremely proud of this heritage.” Said Smith. “As we celebrate EMS Week 2011 and reflect on our first two decades of service to Calvert County, we are one hundred percent focused on providing the highest quality of pre-hospital ALS treatment to acutely ill and injured patients in Calvert County, and continuing to build on our organization’s strengths for the next 20 years of service.”