At the National Association of Emergency Medical Technician’s (NAEMT) mid-year meeting in Baltimore, in March 2006, the NAEMT Board of Directors approved a proposal made by then NAEMT Secretary Bob Loftus. The proposal called for the establishment of a National EMS Museum. NAEMT provided the seed money to help establish the Museum.
Since 2006, the National EMS Museum has received financial support from NAEMT, the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE), Ferno, Laerdal, Dr. David Boyd, and in-kind support from EMSWorld EXPO, EMS Today, the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS), the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, the National EMS Memorial Foundation, the National EMS Memorial Service, and Gene and Steve Lichtman. The National EMS Museum is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit. The Museum’s primary goal is “To preserve the history of EMS in the belief that remembrance promotes understanding, respect, and enlightened progress.” The history of EMS has been held in reverence by EMS pioneers, providers, and citizens of this nation from its beginnings. There have been Herculean efforts by several groups over the past 30+ years to preserve and protect the artifacts, tools, documents and continued growth of EMS. It is time to unite these grassroots efforts and build a home where we can preserve the past, present and future history of this profession for all. Its mission statement encapsulates its purpose: “The National EMS Museum is dedicated to memorializing and commemorating the history of EMS and the individuals and organizations that provide emergency care to the sick and injured.” For years, EMS professionals have discussed our proud history and the need for a way to preserve it. We dreamed of a cohesive way to share it with future generations of EMS providers, as well as the public we serve. We now have an obligation to fulfill that dream and preserve the unique History of EMS, past, present and future. EMS professionals and friends of EMS from all over the country are joining together to work on this collaborative project. Since an initial internet posting of “What if…?” in late June 2006, the momentum for this idea and vision has grown and developed at lightning speed. Though NAEMT provided the initial momentum, it has always been the intent that the National EMS Museum project should be a national shared effort and not linked to any one organization. A 15-member Board of Trustees, led by President Bob Loftus has devised a three-phase plan, two of which are in progress
Equipment and material donations, both large and small, continue to be received. For instance, the first production Lifepak 33 (serial # 0001) from 1968 was recently donated, as well as several subsequent Physio Control and other manufacturers' models. How you can participate - First, visit the museum website, then, contribute your thoughts and discuss ideas. Second, GET INVOLVED!