(Miami, FL) - Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) and the American College of Emergency Physicians are acknowledging the men and women who work as emergency medical technicians and paramedics. They will be recognized across our nation from May 18-24, 2014, as a part of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week.

EMS is vital to public safety. Paramedics and EMTs are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In 2013, MDFR transported nearly 80,000 residents and visitors to local hospitals. MDFR paramedics and EMTs provide access to quality emergency care that dramatically improves the survival and recovery rates for those who experience sudden illness or injuries.  Today, Miami-Dade County possesses the lowest cardiac emergency mortality rate in the nation - less than 1 percent.

In 2013, MDFR received the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award from the Congressional Fire Service Institute in Washington, DC for its infection control program.  MDFR’s Advanced Life Support (ALS) team is the most successful in the State of Florida, winning more awards than all other departments in the state.  In 2012, the team won the inaugural Florida Cup, which recognizes the highest ranking team throughout all of the competitions each year.  In 2013, they won the Bill Shearer International ALS Competition at ClinCon in Orlando.  This competition is the most prestigious of all ALS competitions and is considered to be the “World Championship.”  This is the third time in 5 years the team has won this event.

MDFR has grown into one of the top ten largest fire-rescue departments in the United States staffed by more than 2,550 employees; of which, more than 2,100 are uniformed firefighters. MDFR has 65 fire-rescue stations within unincorporated Miami-Dade County and serves 30 municipalities. MDFR also provides aero-medical transport services within Miami-Dade County to state-approved trauma centers and other medical facilities. MDFR's four air rescue helicopters are also used to perform search and rescue missions and firefighting and reconnaissance operations involving large incidents, such as wildfires and major alarms.

For more information, please contact MDFR’s Public Affairs Bureau at 786-331-5200.