This is National EMS Week and today is EMS Recognition Day honoring the emergency medical personnel who work to save lives in their communities.

At this week’s county board meeting, Wayne County EMS Director Dave Cuddeback appeared with staff from his department to give them thanks.

Cuddeback says Wayne County has the greatest assembled team of EMS providers that he’s ever worked with.

Wayne County Commissioner Barbara Aycock knows about the difficulties faced everyday by EMTs.

Aycock is a former EMT, and she says one of the hardest things she ever faced was an incident where a small child was killed on a local farm.

Commissioner Aycock says you have to be dedicated to the job, especially when confronted with the emotions of a life or death situation.

In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation’s communities.

This year’s theme is “This Is EMS: Caring for Our Communities.”