EMS Week: Honoring our past, forging our future 

EMCTs of the Year – 2024
Daniel Malanowski, Central Region
Russell Smith, Northern Region
Dan Wallace, Southeastern Region
Tim Maple, Western Region

Each year, during the month of May, the Arizona Department of Health Services’ (ADHS) Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma System observes National EMS Week to honor our EMS and trauma system providers. In recognition of the long-standing contributions of Arizona’s EMS and Trauma System community, Governor Katie Hobbs recently signed a Proclamation designating May Arizona Trauma Awareness Month, May 19-25 Emergency Medical Services Week, and May 22 EMS for Children Day.

This year’s theme is Honoring Our Past, Forging Our Future. ADHS is honoring the history of the Arizona EMS system by recognizing key milestones and is forging our future by celebrating what’s to come. 

Honoring our past 

The evolution of Arizona’s EMS and Trauma System has been achieved through advancement of a series of legislative, executive, and programmatic initiatives over the past 50 years. 

• 1974 – Paramedic training was established in Arizona.
• 1978 – The Arizona Emergency Medical Services Council was established.
• 1983 – The three-digit 911 emergency telephone number system was established.
• 1994 – The State Trauma Advisory Board (STAB) was founded.
• 2005 – Arizona’s trauma center designation rules and trauma center standards were approved.
• 2011 – ADHS launches Arizona’s EMS registry (AZ-PIERS) to receive prehospital care data.

These initiatives have enabled Arizona’s EMS and Trauma System providers to respond to more than one million annual emergent requests, including, but not limited to:

• Stroke (6,085 calls in 2022) 
• STEMI (2,965 calls in 2022) 
• Cardiac Arrest (18,965 calls in 2022) 
• Traumatic Injury (158,378 calls in 2022) 
• Substance Use Incidents (40,927 calls in 2022)
• Heat-Related Illness Emergencies (3,511 calls in 2022) 

Forging our future 

The future of Arizona’s EMS and Trauma System is being forged by stakeholders implementing public health response and prevention initiatives including:

• Naloxone Leave Behind Programs initiated by Arizona fire and EMS agencies to address the opioid crisis.
• Revising Arizona’s Administrative Rules to address changes in EMS and trauma care in Arizona.
• Collaborating with multiple state and federal agencies to prevent traffic-related injury and mortality.
• Collaborating with stakeholders in drafting a 2025 to 2030 EMS and Trauma System Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan.
• Expanding EMS and trauma system initiatives as components of Arizona’s public health system.

EMS Week-related activities

As part of EMS Week, the ADHS Bureau of EMS and Trauma System is recognizing four Emergency Medical Care Technicians (EMCTs) of the Year who went above and beyond in their service of emergent care to Arizona’s sick and injured. Congratulations to this year’s winners: 

• Daniel Malanowski, EMCT of the Year, Central Region
• Russell Smith, EMCT of the Year, Northern Region
• Dan Wallace, EMCT of the Year, Southeastern Region
• Tim Maple, EMCT of the Year, Western Region

Please join us in celebrating the heroes, achievements, and important strides towards a more safe and healthy Arizona!