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Austin proclaims May 2025 Emergency Medical Services Week; honors fallen EMS communications captain
Summary
Council Member Paige Ellis read a mayoral proclamation designating May 2025 as Emergency Medical Services Week and led a moment of silence for an Austin-Travis County EMS communications captain who died last week. Austin-Travis County EMS representatives highlighted the agency’s 24/7 work, changing call types and community-health roles.
Council Member Paige Ellis, representing District 8, read a mayoral proclamation at City Hall declaring May 2025 as Emergency Medical Services Week and asked for a moment of silence to honor an Austin-Travis County EMS communications captain who died last week.
Ellis said, “Captain Barr dedicated 17 years to Austin Travis County EMS. Her voice, her leadership, and her unwavering commitment to this community will be deeply missed.” She read the proclamation on behalf of Mayor Kirk Watson and the full city council.
An Austin-Travis County EMS representative thanked the council and city leadership for support and described the week as a time to recognize frontline staff, including EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers and support personnel. The representative said the EMS Week theme is “we care for everyone,” and noted Austin-Travis County EMS is adapting to changing demands — citing decreased opioid overdoses citywide and expanded roles for community health paramedics in addressing homelessness. The representative added that frontline staff continue to respond under difficult conditions, including long shifts and rising call volumes.
Ellis told attendees the council and city leadership will support EMS so crews can continue their work in the future, saying, “we'll have your back so you can continue this work.” The proclamation text read in the meeting also described emergency medical services as providing lifesaving care “24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”
The brief ceremony concluded with applause and a photo. No formal council vote or ordinance was recorded in the transcript; the meeting record shows the proclamation was read and presented during the ceremony portion of the session.
