EMS Week 2026: Celebrating Arizona’s EMS and Trauma Professionals

Arizona Celebrates EMS Week and National Trauma Awareness Month

Every May, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Bureau of EMS & Trauma System takes the opportunity to acknowledge the critical work of those in emergency medical services. This year, the focus is on “Improving Outcomes, Together,” highlighting the collaborative efforts of EMS workers across the state.

Celebrating EMS Week 2026

EMS Week, observed from May 17-23 in 2026, emphasizes the importance of improving emergency outcomes through teamwork. Arizona’s more than 23,000 Emergency Medical Care Technicians (EMCTs), alongside numerous emergency physicians and nurses, handle over one million emergency calls each year. In 2024, these included significant incidents such as:

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

The ongoing training and education of the EMS teams have led to reduced fatality rates in prehospital settings and trauma centers over the past five years.

National Trauma Awareness Month: “Stay Focused, Stay Safe”

In conjunction with EMS Week, May also marks National Trauma Awareness Month. This initiative promotes injury prevention and honors the dedicated professionals who care for trauma patients. Arizona’s 51 trauma centers reported 74,297 trauma cases in 2024, a 4.6% increase from 2023. The cases included:

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, with specifics such as:

MVT-Occupant (12,390)

MVT-Motorcyclist (2,491)

MVT-Pedestrian (1,445)

MVT-Pedalcyclist (775)

Honoring Excellence in EMS and Trauma Care

Each year, outstanding contributions by EMCTs and trauma care professionals are recognized. This year’s award recipients include:

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)

The commitment of Arizona’s EMS and trauma professionals ensures the safety and well-being of its residents, 24/7, throughout the year.