Each year in the month of May, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Bureau of EMS & Trauma System (BEMSTS) observes EMS Week, EMS for Children Day, and National Trauma Awareness Month. Arizona Governor, Katie Hobbs, issued this year’s Proclamation 

Arizona’s integrated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma System is comprised of Emergency Medical Care Technicians (EMCTs), emergency physicians, emergency nurses, and trauma care professionals, working on ground and air ambulances, fire trucks, and emergency and trauma centers.

EMS Week 2026 (May 17-23): “Improving Outcomes, Together.”

Arizona’s 23,000+ EMCTs and countless emergency physicians and nurses collectively respond and manage over one million emergency calls each year. In 2024, Arizona EMS providers responded to: 

  • 25,136 Seizures
  • 21,518 Strokes
  • 19,580 Substance Use
  • 19,356 Suicide/Suicide Attempts
  • 15,056 Cardiac Arrests
  • 8,448 Diabetes
  • 4,545 STEMI
  • 150 Drownings

This year’s EMS Week “Improving Outcomes, Together,” recognizes the dedication of the EMS community to Arizona’s EMS providers’ specialized training and continuing education, skills, lived professional experience, performance improvement practices, and technology all support overall reductions in prehospital and trauma center fatality rates over the past five years.

The ADHS Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program helps Arizona prepare for emergencies involving children by helping EMS agencies and emergency departments become pediatric-ready. 

Thank you to Arizona’s EMS workforce for working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to protect the health and safety of Arizonans!

National Trauma Awareness Month (May 2026): “Stay Focused, Stay Safe.”

National Trauma Awareness Month promotes injury prevention and safety practices and celebrates the professionals who care for trauma patients each and every day. In 2024, Arizona’s 51 trauma centers reported 74,297 trauma cases to the Arizona State Trauma Registry (a 4.6% increase from the 71,015 trauma cases reported in 2023) including:

  • 6,568 pediatric trauma incidents (0.4% increase from 2023)
  • 39,970 fall incidents (8.1% increase from 2023)
  • 17,101 Motor Vehicle Traffic (MVT) related trauma incidents:
    • MVT-Occupant (12,390)
    • MVT-Motorcyclist (2,491)
    • MVT-Pedestrian (1,445)
    • MVT-Pedalcyclist (775) 

Thank you to Arizona’s trauma centers and the nurses and physicians who provide quality care for injured patients every day.

Recognizing Arizona’s 2026 Outstanding EMS and Trauma Professionals 

Each year in May, ADHS BEMSTS and EMS and Trauma System Stakeholders celebrate and recognize Emergency Medical Care Technicians (EMCTs) and trauma care professionals for their extraordinary service and contributions to EMS, trauma care, and increased trauma survival rates. Congratulations to this year’s winners:

EMCT of the Year

  • Sara Brunelle, Paramedic, Phoenix Fire Department (Central EMS Region)
  • Jace Hall, Paramedic, Central Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (Northern EMS Region)
  • Adriane Demotica, Paramedic, Rio Rico Medical & Fire District (Southeastern EMS Region)
  • Joe Maxwell, Paramedic, Buckskin Fire Department (Western EMS Region)

Trauma Awards

  • Melissa Luxton, MSN, RN (Injury Prevention Achievement Award)
  • Kaveh Najafi, DO, FACS (Trauma Medical Director of the Year – Level I Trauma Center)
  • Merideth Gradowski, MSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN (Trauma Program Manager of the Year – Level I Trauma Center)
  • Shannon Claw, BSN, RN (Trauma Program Manager of the Year – Level III Trauma Center)
  • Deborah Verkyk, BSN, RN (Trauma Program Manager of the Year – Level IV Trauma Center)
  • Maria Salas, CSTR (Trauma Registrar of the Year – Level I Trauma Center)