For release: September 1, 2005
The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) has made the first donation on behalf of EMS victims of Hurricane Katrina to the NAEMT EMS and Rescuer Relief Fund. The donation amount of $5,000 was approved by the NAEMT Board of Directors in an emergency meeting held Tuesday.
“All of us on the Board are extremely concerned about the EMS responders who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina,” said NAEMT President-Elect Jerry Johnston. “We hope that our commitment to supporting the EMS and Rescuer Relief Fund will encourage other individuals to make a donation to allow us to offer financial support to our fellow EMS personnel who have suffered great personal losses and yet are serving others in the disaster area.”
NAEMT established the EMS and Rescuer Relief Fund after 9-11 to collect money for the families of the EMS workers who died responding to the terrorist attacks. That fund remains operational, and funds collected at this time will be distributed to EMS responders affected by Hurricane Katrina.
NAEMT urges anyone who is able to make a financial donation to send a check to the NAEMT EMS and Rescuer Relief Fund c/o the NAEMT Headquarters, PO Box 1400, Clinton, MS 39060-1400. Individual and corporate donations are welcome. Credit card donations can be made by calling (800) 34-NAEMT.
NAEMT has pledged to cover the operational costs of the fund, permitting all donations to the fund to be distributed in their entirety. The money collected will be made available to EMS professionals who need help re-building their lives in the wake of the hurricane. No decisions have been made yet as to precisely when and how the funds will be disseminated.
After 9-11, NAEMT disseminated $107,553 to assist the families of EMS workers who died in the line of duty while responding to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
NAEMT is the oldest and largest association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics and other emergency medical responders. NAEMT President Ken Bouvier and Past President John Roquemore, both from the New Orleans area, are currently serving their communities during the Katrina disaster.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact John Becknell or Lauren Simon Ostrow at (858) 456-8600. Further information will be posted on www.naemt.org as it becomes available.