Alabama Office of EMS

Where will tomorrow take you?

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today."

Be the best you can be and don't doubt yourself.

June 1-7 each year is National CPR and AED Awareness Week, spotlighting how lives can be saved if more Americans know CPR and how to use an AED. If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you may even be trying to save the life of someone you love. Be the difference!

Thank a Veteran today!

I recently had the honor a pleasure to meet some of these trailblazing individuals in Pittsburgh and strongly encourage you to read and watch to learn and appreciate EMS history, our history.

In 1967, Pittsburgh’s inner city produced America’s first EMT service. Comprised solely of Black men and women recruited from the city’s Hill District neighborhood, the paramedics of Freedom House Ambulance became trailblazers in providing pre-hospital and CPR care.
Freedom House was initially conceived to respond to the needs of Pittsburgh’s African American community who often times, couldn’t rely on police and fire departments during an emergency. Their ground breaking work became the basis for all paramedics training in the country. However, despite its success – racism and power dynamics in Pittsburgh shut down Freedom House in 1975, leaving its legacy almost lost to history.

Freedom House Ambulance: The FIRST Responders In 1967, Pittsburgh's inner city produced America’s first EMT service. Comprised solely of Black men and women recruited from the city’s Hill District neighb...

I want to take this opportunity to say Thank You to all of the EMS providers as we kick off the 50th anniversary of EMS Week. I thank you for your dedication to our profession but most of all I thank you for your dedication to our patients.

The theme of this year’s EMS Week is “Honoring our Past” while also looking forward to our future. There have been lots of folks who have made EMS great over the years and the list would be too long to even attempt to list.

I would like to honor two of my personal mentors. One is Ralph Howard who was the founder of Hale Co EMS and the longtime director of that service. He was always able to develop young people into competent EMS providers. I know that personally he took a wild eyed young man and brought EMS into focus and I still have that same passion for EMS even after thirty nine years. It is a testament to Ralph’s commitment to EMS and sometimes his tough love that I still have the wonder and love for EMS even after all of these years.

The second person is Glenn Davis who is the Region 4 director. If you have ever practiced in the West region chances are you have been taught and mentored by Glenn. He is absolutely the most selfless person I have ever met and truly tries to serve his fellow man. I still lean on Glenn daily for advice and I can always count on him to give honest feedback. As we look to the future of EMS we would be wise to adopt the servant attitude that Glenn shows every day.

In closing I would once again say thank you for what you do each and every day.

Elwin Crawford, MD, FACEP
State EMS Medical Director

Happy EMS Week! Help Celebrate the 50th Anniversary!

Hope everyone has a great new year! Be safe!
Thank you to those who are working and away from families tonight.

As the joyous season of Christmas approaches, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude and extend warm wishes to all of our EMS family. This message comes with sincere appreciation for all that you do everyday.

Throughout the year, you have been a source of inspiration, support, and kindness in the work that you do fr others. Your dedication and hard work have made a significant impact, not only on me but also on those around you. Your commitment to excellence and your unwavering spirit have not gone unnoticed.

On this special occasion, I want to acknowledge the invaluable contributions you have made, whether it be in your personal or professional life. Your unwavering support, encouragement, and compassion have uplifted and touched the lives of many, including mine.

Christmas, with its enchanting atmosphere, reminds us of the importance of gratitude and cherishing the relationships we hold dear. It is a time to come together, celebrate, and reflect on the blessings in our lives.

So, as we gather with loved ones, exchange gifts, and create lasting memories, I want to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for your unwavering support, your uplifting presence, and your unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in your communities. Your actions have not only enriched lives around you but have also made the world a better place.

May this Christmas season bring you joy, peace, and an abundance of love. May it be filled with the warmth of family and friends, and may you find happiness in the smallest of moments.

Once again, thank you for everything you do. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!