National EMS Week is coming to a close but Daryl Davis, the chief of the Aiken County division, happily reported that local hospitals have been honoring the group all week long.
Davis sat with Scott Seeley, Ricky Crawford and other EMS workers Thursday at Aiken Regional Medical Centers, where the group enjoyed a lunch of barbecue sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks - all provided by the hospital.
Davis explained that the hospital is EMS' main customer in terms of bringing patients in. The teamwork and appreciation is a year-round thing, Davis added, including Aiken Regional allowing EMS to use their classrooms and facilities for meetings.
"Aiken Regional has always been there for us," he said. "They appreciate us and we certainly appreciate them."
Vance Reynolds, CEO of Aiken Regional, said it's vital for the local EMS providers and the hospital to work hand-in-hand since they're taking care of the same patients and community.
"We cannot do it without them," Reynolds said. "It's a really tough job that often goes under the radar, so we wanted to highlight their efforts today."
According to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, EMS Week was authorized in 1973 by President Gerald Ford. This year, the week will run from May 17 to 23 and celebrates EMS, its practitioners and the important work they do in responding to medical emergencies.
Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter for the Aiken Standard.