EMS Week: Be Ready - Learn First-Aid and CRP

National EMS Week was established to heighten public awareness of emergency medical services and teach early activation of EMS through the proper use of the 9-1-1 emergency system. EMS agencies urge every citizen to:

• Have essential emergency supplies, such as a Shelter-in-Place Kit and a Go Bag with First-Aid Kits.
• Develop a Household Emergency Plan with important emergency phone numbers.
• Make sure your house number is visible from the street.  Make it easier for police, fire or emergency medical personnel to find your house.
• Keep a Health Information Card for each member of the household with their medical conditions, allergies, medications and dosages.
• Take a First-Aid Class, learn CRP and abdominal thrusts, commonly known as the Heimlich Maneuver.
• Instruct all family members in the proper and appropriate use of 9-1-1 in an emergency. The sooner 9-1-1 is called, the sooner advanced life support arrives.

These important techniques are the key to saving the life of a family member or a fellow citizen.


For more information on emergency preparedness, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management at www.phila.gov/ready. You can also follow PhilaOEM on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, MySpace, LinkedIn, and YouTube.