Take a Class, Save a Life for EMS Week

The number one killer in Howard County is heart disease, according to the county's health director. And this week, first responders want the community to help them save lives. 

This week is National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, and the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services wants people to learn more about the signs of cardiac arrest—a symptom of heart disease—and what to do to help.

“We’re asking the residents of our great county to learn to recognize the signs of sudden cardiac arrest, immediately call 911, and perform chest compressions until we arrive,” Fire/EMS Chief William Goddard said in a statement.  

“We can’t do it alone; we need the help of the entire community. Bystanders performing continuous chest compressions, until we arrive, dramatically increase the chance of a person’s survival.”

This year’s theme is "EMS More than a Job. A Calling."

“As EMS providers, we are just doing what we were called to do,” Howard County Health Director Kevin Seaman said in the statement. “And we’re asking for you to help us do it even better. Together, we can make strides to tackle this life-threatening disease.”  

The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services was awarded the 2012 Heart Safe Community award and hosted the first East Coast Resuscitation Academy. All crew members are trained as both firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Throughout the year, they respond to more than 200 calls for cardiac arrest.

About 88 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home or in the workplace and bystanders are often the first to respond, according to officials.

“The more people who know hands-only CPR, the more people we can save,” County Executive Ken Ulman said in the statement.

Click here to register for a HCDFRS CPR class.