 EMS
Week is a great way to publicize safety and showcase the dedication of
EMS providers, whether you are volunteer, paid, third-service,
fire-based, ground or air ambulance, this is a week to be proud and to
be recognized.
As part of EMS week in 2008 (May 18-24), Emergency Medical Service
Institute (EMSI) will kick off a campaign to raise awareness of EMS
within the community. EMSI is a nonprofit (501.C.3) corporation which
provides technical and financial assistance to the development of a
coordinated emergency medical services system primarily throughout the
10-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania. EMSI is responsible for
160 ambulance services and 15,000 providers.
"What we try do on a regional basis is work with the state department of
health to expand and improve the EMS system," said Tom McElree,
executive director and general counsel of EMSI. "One of the things we
have focused on for the past four years is the whole concept of
recognition for the EMS provider and EMS community. We don't do a good
job of advertising for ourselves."
So McElree approached John Chamberlin, vice president of
ThinkThroughTools and co-founder of Rock, Paper, Scissors, Chutes, LLC,
about increasing the awareness of EMS Week to the general public.
"EMS Week is a great time to promote EMS services," said McElree. "I've
known John and his talents and ability for a number of years and asked
for his help in creating a recognition campaign that will work, not only
during EMS Week, but something we can carry into the future. We didn't
want this to be a one shot deal."
Chamberlin and McElree came up with a "DoURealize" theme that EMSI can
use for other promotional activities throughout the year. "DoURealize"
can be used in conjunction with various questions such as… "Do U Realize
it is EMS Week? Do U Realize what EMS people do? Do U Realize what is
the name of your ambulance service?
"It's just to help people raise awareness of who their local ambulance
service is, what they do, and so forth," explained Chamberlin. "Tom
McElree really took the initiative on this project and wanted a more
global approach to an EMS Week promotion. He's the first person to
really take it seriously like that. He didn’t take a micro approach to
this."
Chamberlin also created a Web site—
www.DoURealize.com — where the public
can post a public thank you note to their EMS providers.
"We're trying to get as many thank-yous as possible," he said. "On the
same Web site, there will be a musical montage attributed to EMS people
as well as celebrity videos from local radio DJs and television
personalities thanking EMS people for doing a good job."
A regional family restaurant chain, Eat N Park, is also heavily involved
in the campaign and will hang DoURealize posters in all of its
restaurants throughout the region.
In addition to the Web site, a
MySpace page was created. Even before a
formal announcement of the MySpace page, they already had over 300
friends from the EMS community all over the country within days the page
went live. The MySpace page contains the DoURealize song written and
performed by ThinkThroughTools CEO, Rich Obertots (see the lyrics in the
sidebar).
"The nice thing about Web sites or a MySpace page is that we can measure
the hits and see how many log onto the site and post thank-you notes,"
McElree said.
McElree said that they plan to do a DoURealize related promotion in the
fall and winter.
"We're trying to get the community to realize what EMS means to it," he
said. "We want this theme to be used throughout the entire year. It's an
awareness campaign to make people stop for a second and think about
their local ambulance service. Our goal is to generate conversation and
discussion among the community."
Whatever you decide to do for your EMS Week campaign, astute planning is
critical according to Chamberlin and McElree. An ill-prepared,
last-minute campaign will not only decrease your chances of exposure,
but can possibly hurt your reputation. The longer you wait, the less
money you can receive from sponsors, the less exposure, and the higher
your stress level.
"Preplanning is very important," said Chamberlin. "Always start your EMS
Week planning as early as possible. We now have other agencies
interested working with us and planning for next year."
McElree added that another key component to an EMS Week campaign is to
present a unified message.
"The thing that is difficult in EMS is that there are so many
independent services that are doing their own thing," said McElree. "If
we want to really have a positive push, we need a common unified message
that everyone is presenting to the public. With this campaign, we have
one Web site, one place to go to, one theme, etc. We want people to use
this theme everywhere. We want to unite everyone. That unified message
is essential because we send a stronger message that way."
What tips can you share with our readers on how to celebrate EMS Week
2009? Share with us your events for this year and what steps you took to
make them happen. Email us at
rich.obertots@thinkthroughtools.com. |
DO YOU
REALIZE (HOW YOU LOOK IN THEIR EYES)
Do you realize, how you look in their eyes
Do you really know how they feel when you show up
To lend them a hand
Do you realize, you’re a sight for scared eyes
Do you really know, how they feel when you show up
Do you understand
You say it’s all in a day’s work – you’re no hero
You chalk it up as a job to do
But deep inside’s so much pride and we know
We’re so lucky to have you
Do you realize, how you look in their eyes
Do you really know how they feel when you show up
To lend them a hand
Desperate lives; desperate times, look for leaders
To make sense of it all
You bring hope, you help cope with defeaters
Oh yes you heed the call
Do you realize, how you look in their eyes
Do you really know how they feel when you show up
Do you understand
And when you’re alone
Deep in your deepest thoughts your light has shown
You, you’ve made someone’s day
And there’s nothing that ever can take that day away
Do you realize, how you look in their eyes
Do you really know how they feel when you show up
To lend them a hand
Do you realize, how you look in their eyes
Do you really know how they feel when you show up
Do you understand
Do you realize HOW YOU LOOK IN THEIR EYES
Lyrics & Music Richard M. Obertots, MBA, NREMT-P (ret)
© Obertunes, ASCAP
Performed by The Original Dysrhythmics™
rich.obertots@ThinkThroughTools.com |
