Emergency Medical Services, more commonly known as EMS, is an essential public service. You can easily recognize EMS when you see ambulances and medical helicopters responding to incidents in our community, but EMS is much more than emergency medical response and transport. EMS is part of an intricate system of agencies and organizations; communications and transportation networks; trauma systems, as well as hospitals, trauma centers, and specialty care centers; rehabilitation facilities; and highly trained professionals —including volunteer and career prehospital personnel, physicians, nurses, therapists, administrators, government officials and an informed public that knows what to do in a medical emergency. Each player in the EMS system has an essential job to perform as part of a coordinated system of care. —Adapted from NHTSA