EMS Week 2025: We Salute EMS: Through Their Eyes

By Jason Pack

A Look Back at How EMS Began

There was a time when if you called for help, a hearse from the undertaker showed up. In the early days of emergency response, ambulances were often station wagons run out of the local funeral home. If the driver thought you had a chance, they took you to the hospital. If not, they might pull around back and wait. That was pre-hospital care in much of America. There was no oxygen, no trained personnel, and no medications. It was simply a fast ride and a quiet hope.

How a TV Show Changed a Nation

Things started to change in 1972 when the television show Emergency! aired across the country. The show followed Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics Johnnie Gage and Roy DeSoto as they responded to wrecks, heart attacks, and disasters. They carried defibrillators, started IVs, and talked to doctors by radio from the scene. For many viewers, it was the first time they had seen medical care delivered outside a hospital.

The show was not flashy. It did not rely on dramatic love stories or big cliffhangers. Instead, it planted a seed. It showed that you did not need to be a doctor to save a life. You only needed to show up, stay calm, and do the job. As a result, people listened. A new generation signed up to become EMTs and paramedics. Communities began building real EMS systems. The ambulance stopped being just a ride. It became a rolling emergency room.

The Reality of EMS Today

Today, Emergency Medical Services is one of the most vital areas of public safety. From big cities to small rural towns, EMTs and paramedics are the first to arrive when the unthinkable happens. They walk into the unknown every day. They lift patients from twisted metal, crawl through floodwaters, hold pressure on bullet wounds, and try to resuscitate babies who are not breathing.

They work at three in the morning, in the pouring rain, while being screamed at, covered in bodily fluids, or thanked with quiet tears. They miss holidays, family dinners, and sleep. Although the work is heavy, they keep going because someone has to.

Why EMS Week Still Matters

This week, we honor them. National EMS Week began in 1974 when President Gerald Ford set aside time to recognize the professionals who respond to life’s worst moments with skill and compassion. Even so, many people still do not understand what EMS teams do or what it takes to do it well.

Too often, EMTs and paramedics are still called “ambulance drivers.” That phrase does not reflect the complexity of their work. They assess strokes and heart attacks in minutes. They manage airways, deliver babies, and make split-second choices that can mean life or death. They work in chaos, moving quickly in tight spaces, on busy roads, and in homes full of fear.

The Challenges They Face

Unfortunately, the field is struggling. Fewer people are stepping into the job. Burnout is high and pay is low. Some communities rely on volunteers because they cannot afford full-time services. Hospitals are crowded, and EMS teams often wait in hallways with their patients because no beds are available. During those waits, they cannot respond to the next emergency.

Technology is advancing, and telemedicine is growing. Even so, no machine can replace the hands of a medic holding a bleeding wound or the calm voice that tells a mother her child will be all right. You cannot program empathy, and you cannot code courage.

A Call to Serve and a Message of Gratitude

That is why this week matters. It reminds us that behind every siren is a human being. It also challenges us to consider serving our communities. EMS is not easy work, but it is meaningful. When a heart stops or a child cannot breathe, you are the one they call.

To those who already serve, thank you. Whether you are a thirty-year medic, a rookie on your first shift, or a volunteer balancing this calling with a day job, your courage is seen and appreciated.

As I prepare for my next shift, I am lifting up every EMT and paramedic answering the call this week. You are the hands and feet of grace in people’s darkest hours. You are the heartbeat of your community. This week, we see you. And we thank God for you.

Is The Press Release Dead in the PR and PIO Worlds ?

By Jason Pack, Media Rep Global Strategies

How It Started: A Teenage PIO With a Rotary Phone

I wrote my first press release when I was 16 years old. I was a junior firefighter with the East Hamblen County Volunteer Fire Department in Morristown, Tennessee. Somehow, I also became the “PIO.” My job was simple. I called the local radio station and the community newspaper whenever we had a fire, wreck, or public event.

Back then, breaking news meant dialing a rotary phone and giving a reporter the basics. Sometimes I recorded an actuality on a cassette so the station could play my voice during the hourly update. Other times, I dictated a few sentences and listened as the reporter typed the story. The goal was always the same. Keep the public informed and keep the community connected to its fire department.

Those early days taught me a lesson I still use today. It is not about the tool. It is about the trust. Reporters wanted accuracy and usable quotes. The public wanted clear information. My job was to connect the two.

When the Press Release Ruled the Newsroom

For decades, the press release was the gold standard. It created a formal written record and gave reporters something ready to use. As technology advanced, the format changed. I remember when video news releases arrived. They came with b-roll, voiceovers, and soundbites. At the time they felt futuristic. They gave television stations a nearly packaged story.

Looking back, those video releases were ahead of their time. They showed that visuals matter. They recognized that newsrooms are short-staffed. They also proved that stories need to be easy to share.

From Long Releases to Real-Time Tweets

Years later, while serving as an FBI spokesperson, I typed out a very different kind of release. I sent the first FBI tweet announcing the capture of Top Ten Fugitive James “Whitey” Bulger in Santa Monica. That tweet went around the world within seconds.

It amazed me how fast the communication landscape had shifted. One tweet replaced what once required a multi-page release, a fax blast, and a string of phone calls. In that moment, the FBI’s official Twitter feed became a wire service of its own. It reached both the public and the media at the same time.

That experience reinforced the lesson I learned as a teenage fire PIO. The tools may change, but the responsibility to communicate clearly and credibly stays the same.

The Rise of Social Media as the First Word

Today social media is the first stop for both reporters and the public. A Facebook post can reach thousands in seconds. A single tweet can drive a national story before a formal release is even drafted. A short TikTok clip can shape the narrative long before a press conference takes place.

The press release is not dead. However, it is no longer the opening act. It has become the supporting document behind faster, more flexible communication.

PIOs must recognize that the audience has shifted. We are no longer broadcasting one generic release to everyone. We are narrowcasting. That means tailoring each message to the people who will use it, including the public, elected officials, reporters, employees, and community groups.

This often requires multiple formats. You might post a one-page release online, text bullet points to key reporters, share a video clip on social media, and send an infographic to community leaders. Each version tells the same story, but each one is packaged for how that audience receives information.

What Will Never Change

Even with new tools, the core mission stays the same. The public wants information that is true and timely. Reporters want clear facts they can use quickly. Leaders want communication that is accurate and accountable.

This is why the press release still matters. It forces accuracy. It creates a record. It provides a reference point. But it only works if it is paired with the speed and reach of social platforms.

What the Future of Press Releases Looks Like

PIOs should stop asking whether the press release is dead. The better question is how to adapt it. The solution is not to abandon the press release. The solution is to reshape it.

Keep it short.
Keep it clear.
Pair it with visuals and sound.
Push it through multiple channels.
Tailor it to each audience.

From cassette tapes to video news releases to the FBI’s first tweet about Whitey Bulger, I have watched the formats evolve. The lesson has remained the same. Tools come and go. Trust, clarity, and credibility endure.

Faith in the Flood: What Texas Took From Us

There’s a photo going around. A sheriff’s deputy, standing by the water, hand covering his face. You don’t need a caption. You don’t need to know his name. That image speaks for all of us.

We’ve been there.

It’s the weight that comes after the adrenaline wears off. After rescue turns to recovery. After you realize this time, you couldn’t save them.

What happened in Texas was fast. Violent. Water rose where it never had before. Roads washed out. Homes filled in minutes. RVs with sleeping families swept away. And at a summer camp in Hill Country, children were caught in it.

They came to sing, to play, to laugh with friends. You can almost hear their voices in the fields. Some packed Bibles and flashlights. Some had never been to church but felt something stirring in that place.

When the flood came, there wasn’t time. Some were rescued. Others were lost. Some are still missing. Search and rescue efforts continue. Counselors did everything they could. Ordinary people were thrown into extraordinary moments. Kids waited for hours in rafters, praying someone would come. Hollywood couldn’t have written a script this gut-punching. But it was real.

As first responders, we’re trained to go in. To move fast. To work the problem. But no amount of training prepares you for scenes like this.

The public sees the badge, the uniform, the mission. They don’t always see what we carry. The mud in our boots long after the work is done. The names we remember when no one else does. The quiet prayers we say over children we couldn’t bring home.

And the questions. We carry those too.

Where was God? Why these kids? Why now?

I’ve asked those questions. Not out of anger. Out of heartbreak.

I don’t have answers. But I’ve stood close enough to both good and evil to know—there has to be more. I’ve seen things no one should see. I’ve seen people risk everything for strangers. I’ve seen hate. And I’ve seen love fight harder.

That’s why I still believe. Not because it’s easy. But because when you’ve been this close to the edge, you know something greater is holding the line.

I believe God was there. In the water. In the arms that pulled children from cabins. In the hands that covered them with blankets. In the eyes of the trooper who stood silent on the shore.

Faith doesn’t take the pain away. But it gives it somewhere to land.

Texas lost more than buildings. Families were lost. Generations, in some cases. The kind of pain that stays. It settles into a town and becomes part of it.

We were reminded how fragile life is. And how fierce love can be when it shows up in a fire engine, an ambulance, or a patrol car.

Still, we go back out. Because love doesn’t walk away when it gets hard. It shows up with silence, presence, and grief that doesn’t need explaining.

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

We saw it in Texas. We feel it still. And we live it, one call at a time.

Jason Pack is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent, former FBI SWAT medic, and former FEMA External Affairs Officer. He has served as a first responder for more than 30 years.

AP Photo.

Reintegrating Freed Hostages: A Media and Public Responsibility

 By Jason Pack, retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and Hostage Negotiator.

When hostages are freed after enduring captivity, it’s a moment of great relief and celebration. But for the survivors and their families, it’s really just the beginning of a new chapter—and sometimes, a hard one. As someone who’s walked alongside people in tough situations, I know it takes time, grace, and a whole lot of patience to heal from something so life-changing.

The Challenges Hostages Face

Hostages go through things most of us can’t imagine. They’re often isolated from everyone and everything they know. Many live with constant fear—never knowing what might happen next or if they’ll ever make it home. Captors can use manipulation, threats, or even moments of false kindness to keep control. Add to that physical hardships like hunger, sickness, or unsafe conditions, and it’s no wonder that the scars of captivity can last long after they’re free.

Even after they’re back home, survivors often face struggles like PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and figuring out who they are after such a loss of control. Families want to help, but it’s hard to know how. Healing, as the Good Book reminds us, doesn’t come quickly; it’s a process that takes love, patience, and understanding. Captivity, at its core, is about survival. Hostages endure isolation, fear for their lives, and a complete loss of control. It’s a level of trauma that’s hard for most of us to even imagine.

How the Media Can Help

The media plays a big role in how these stories are told and how survivors are treated. Journalists have a unique opportunity to shine a light on the broader issues without putting more pressure on survivors. It’s important to let them tell their stories when they’re ready, not push them to relive their trauma before they’ve had a chance to heal.

A thoughtful approach to coverage can make all the difference. Focus on the bigger picture: the challenges of hostage negotiations or how communities can support recovery, rather than zeroing in on gritty details. Survivors need to be in control of their own stories. Respect their boundaries and remember that pushing them to speak too soon can do more harm than good. As much as we all want to know their story, it’s crucial to respect their timeline. Healing doesn’t happen overnight, and their privacy should come first.

The Public’s Role in Recovery

People naturally want to show their support when hostages come home, but it’s important to do so in ways that don’t overwhelm them. Survivors and their families need privacy and space to adjust to their new normal. Unsolicited messages, unannounced visits, or speculating about their experience on social media can be more harmful than helpful.

If you want to help, consider supporting recovery organizations or using appropriate channels to share encouragement without crossing personal boundaries. Sometimes the best way to help is to step back and give them the room they need to heal. Survivors don’t need pressure; they need patience. Healing doesn’t follow a set timeline, and respecting their pace is one of the greatest gifts we can give.

Lessons from the Field

Every hostage situation is different, but some lessons come up time and again. Survivors often lean on small acts of hope to get through captivity—a kind word, a routine, or simply the belief that they’ll make it out. After they’re freed, they need the freedom to regain control over their own lives. That means giving them the space to set boundaries and decide how they want to move forward.

Communities can play a big role by offering patience and understanding. As we bear one another’s burdens, sometimes that means stepping back and letting someone take the lead in their own healing. Each case is different, but one thing is always clear: survivors need to reclaim control over their lives if they’re going to heal.

A Call to Thoughtful Action

Survivors have already endured so much. The least we can do is give them the time, space, and respect they need to heal. Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is take a step back and let them know we’re here when they’re ready. Healing takes time, grace, and patience, but with the right kind of support, these brave survivors can rebuild their lives and move forward.

Jason Pack is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and hostage negotiator, current first responder, and the CEO of Media Rep Global Strategies, drawing on years of experience in crisis response and public communication.

As California Burns, the Call to Help Starts at Home

by Jason Pack | CEO Media Rep Global Strategies

As Americans watch this tragedy unfold, the devastating images of flames engulfing homes and firefighters working tirelessly to contain the destruction raise a familiar question: “How can I help?”

While not everyone can travel to California to fight these fires, there is a meaningful way to contribute—one that begins in your own community.

Many are unaware that a significant portion of emergency services in the United States relies heavily on volunteers. According to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), volunteers comprise 65% of firefighters in the U.S. However, the number of volunteer firefighters has been steadily declining for decades. In 1984, there were about 897,750 volunteer firefighters; by 2020, that number had dropped to 676,900—a loss of more than 220,000 volunteers.

This decline is happening as the U.S. population increases, placing additional strain on fire departments. Volunteer fire departments don’t just respond to fires; they handle medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, and disaster relief. The shrinking number of volunteers places an enormous burden on paid departments and mutual aid networks, which depend on a robust local response to address large-scale crises like California’s wildfires.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are also facing recruitment challenges. A study by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) found that only 13% of EMS professionals serve as volunteers, with the remaining 87% in paid positions. Additionally, a 2023 survey by NAEMT reported that applications for paramedic and EMT positions have decreased by an average of 13% compared to 2019, with nearly two-thirds of agencies experiencing a decline in applications. This trend exacerbates staffing shortages in emergency medical services, impacting response times and patient care.

Law enforcement agencies are not immune to these challenges. According to data reported by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Bulletin, police departments experienced an 18% increase in resignation rates and a 45% surge in retirement rates between 2020 and 2021. Staffing shortages of this magnitude jeopardize public safety, particularly in rural and underserved areas where resources are already stretched thin.

As you watch California’s fires and wonder, “How can I help?” remember this: the best way to make a difference is to start at home. Visit your local fire department, rescue squad, or public safety agency today and find out how you can contribute. America’s strength has always come from its communities. Let’s ensure that strength endures—fueled not by tragedy, but by a shared commitment to each another.

FBI’s Bourbon Street Outreach Proves Victims Are Central to Justi

By Jason Pack, Retired Supervisory Special Agent 

CEO, Media Rep Global Strategies 

The FBI’s recent call for victims of the Bourbon Street attack is more than a procedural step—it’s a clear demonstration that victims are at the heart of the justice process. Under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA), federal law enforcement is legally required to identify and notify victims, inform them of their rights, and provide resources to support their recovery. This isn’t a courtesy—it’s the law, and it’s one of the most important aspects of any criminal investigation.

As a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent, I’ve seen firsthand how empowering victims strengthens both investigations and communities. Victims are more than witnesses—they’re critical partners in bringing perpetrators to justice. Their voices, experiences, and willingness to engage are what make cases stronger and ensure accountability. When the FBI and its state and local partners reach out, it sends a clear message: “You matter. Your voice matters. And the law is on your side.”

The FBI’s outreach also provides victims with access to vital services like counseling, legal assistance, and advocacy programs. These resources are not just about solving crimes—they’re about helping victims rebuild their lives. Support like this can make the difference between a victim feeling isolated and overwhelmed or finding a path forward.

Efforts like these show that law enforcement’s responsibility doesn’t end with identifying suspects. It’s also about ensuring victims have the tools to heal, recover, and participate in the justice system. Victims should never feel forgotten or like an afterthought. They are central to everything law enforcement does, and the FBI’s Bourbon Street outreach proves it.

In my career, I’ve always believed that justice doesn’t just belong to the system—it belongs to the people it serves. The FBI’s work here reflects that belief. By prioritizing victim outreach, the FBI is making it clear that justice includes more than solving cases—it includes standing with victims every step of the way.