Skip to main content

Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness

Go Search
Home
About BPHC
Programs and Services by Bureau
Newsroom
Careers
Board of Health
Blog
  

 

 Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness


image of car accidentBoston Emergency Medical Services (BEMS), a bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission, is one of the nation's oldest providers of pre-hospital care. The agency traces its beginnings back more than 100 years, when it was known as the City Hospital Ambulance Service. To learn more about Boston EMS, visit www.cityofboston.gov/ems.

Boston emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on the streets of Boston providing state-of-the-art emergency care with skill, compassion and dignity to those who are ill or who have been injured.


In addition to providing emergency care, Boston EMS has a dual responsibility to serve the Commission's public health goals by identifying the underlying causes of much of the city's emergencies and preventing these crisis situations through education and other forms of outreach.

Despite the name, emergency response is not the only focus of Boston EMS. In an ever changing world, Boston EMS is at the forefront of emergency preparedness and Homeland Security efforts. The Emergency Preparedness division of Boston EMS, through the DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness, offers expanded and continuing education for City staff, community center, health center and hospital staff, and for area Police and Fire departments. Emergency Preparedness also manages aspects of the City's Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and coordinates the region's Metropolitan Medical Response Service (MMRS). These personnel regularly participate in drills with local, regional, state and federal partners. This cooperative work with our public health and public safety partners has helped to earn high praise for the City and its emergency preparedness efforts.

For Employment:

EMS and other job postings for the Boston Public Health Commission are listed on the Commission's Human Resources website

All applicants to Boston EMS must complete an online application for a posted job.

For more information, email a Recruiter at recruiting@bostonems.org or call 617-343-1125.

NOTE: Paramedics are promoted from within the department only. Many of our EMTs are certified paramedics but work for us as EMTs.  

 

 Contact

Boston EMS and Emergency Preparedness
Phone: (617) 343-BEMS
Fax: (617) 343-1199
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/ems
Boston EMS Headquarters
785 Albany Street,
Boston, MA 02118

 ‭(Hidden)‬ Winter Weather Safety

Stay warm and be safe this winter:

  • Check the temperature in your home often during severely cold weather.
  • Never use your oven for heat.
  • Electric powered portable heaters should never be left on while sleeping and should be kept at least three feet away from combustible materials.
  • Do not overload electrical sockets.
  • Never leave candles unattended.
  • Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, toxic gas that can leak into your home from a faulty heating system, an idling car in your garage, or using your oven as a heat source. CO detectors are required in homes by law, and they must be within ten feet of sleeping areas.
  • Working smoke detectors should be on each floor of your home, particularly near bedrooms.
  • To avoid frozen pipes, let warm water drip overnight in faucets, preferably from a faucet on an outdoor wall, and leave cabinet doors open to allow heat to reach un-insulated pipes.
  • Wear layers of comfortable clothing and warm boots or footwear that protect your feet.
  • Cover exposed skin – especially ears, hands, and other extremities – as skin is vulnerable to frost bite at such low temperatures.
  • Keep moving if working or playing outside.
  • Avoid getting wet, and avoid walking on frozen ponds or lakes as ice may not be fully frozen.
  • Eat well-balanced meals to help you stay warmer.
  • Drink warm, non-caffeinated fluids.
  • Keep pets indoors.

Get more tips about how to stay warm and winter indoor safety at CDC and at City of Boston.

 

 Fact Sheets