The American College of Emergency Physicians will kick off the 34th annual Emergency Medical Services Week this weekend with events in communities across the nation as well as several national events saluting "Extraordinary People, Extraordinary Service." In addition, the first virtual EMS Museum will go live, linking approximately 1,000 EMS museums across the country.

National EMS Week will feature hundreds of grassroots activities throughout the country, including bake sales, blood-pressure checks, playground safety presentations, CPR classes, and ambulance and equipment displays. At a time when many communities are struggling to recruit adequate numbers of EMS providers, organizers hope the week's event will inspire volunteers to sign up and serve, as well as spur legislators to adequately fund this critical service.

From May 20–26, the EMS Memorial Bike Ride from New York City to Roanoke, Va., will raise awareness of the National EMS Memorial and the National EMS Memorial Service. On May 26, the National EMS Memorial Service in Roanoke will honor EMS personnel who have died in the line of duty; the service will include a National Moment of Silence at 8 p.m. EDT.

The National EMS Museum Foundation's Virtual EMS Museum allows people to view online artifacts, equipment, ambulances, photographs and other memorabilia from EMS history. Katharine Rickey, a veteran paramedic in New Hampshire, is the curator of the museum, which she calls "a labor of love."

ACEP's 2007 organizational partners for EMS Week include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emergency Medical Services for Children, the National Association of EMTs and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.