In Webster County and all across America, teams of dedicated professionals stand ready to render medical assistance in emergencies. For some this is their career. For many others it is a volunteer undertaking that is performed in addition to their normal employment.

It’s impossible to overstate how important EMS personnel can be to just about any of us in a moment when knowledgeable help is needed fast. Honoring the men and women who handle this vital work is appropriate at all times, but especially so just now. This is Emergency Medical Services Week.

Since 1973, American presidents have issued proclamations calling on all of us to take note of this annual observance. Here are some of President Barack Obama’s words earlier this month that underscore why this celebratory event is important.

“Embodying the grit, compassion and courage that has driven our nation forward since its founding, our emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, nurses, physicians, EMS medical directors, firefighters and law enforcement officers reflect a spirit of selflessness that makes us all strive to live up to their example,” the president’s 2016 proclamation said. “EMS providers brave danger and uncertainty, and their efforts deserve our most profound appreciation. We rarely know when tragedy will strike, and in our most vulnerable moments, we rely on these dedicated professionals. During Emergency Medical Services Week, let us celebrate and support the EMS professionals who demonstrate the values at the heart of the American spirit, and let us thank them for their heroic work.”

The Messenger strongly concurs. If you encounter an EMS worker or volunteer this week – or anytime during the year – take a few moments to thank them for their service to us all.