By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and Masimo will recognize the Joliet (Ill.) Fire Department with the 2025 Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award for its groundbreaking innovations in emergency medical services.
The award will be presented during the 35th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on February 13 in Washington, D.C., CFSI stated in a press release.
The Joliet Fire Department earned this honor for its community mental health program, which offers prevention and awareness training for firefighters, as well as rapid crisis intervention and free, comprehensive mental health services for community members. The program leverages a network of local mental health organizations to deliver these vital resources.
“With an increase in mental health-related calls nationwide, fire departments face challenges in responding to these calls and providing rapid care for the growing number of individuals who suffer from mental illness”, CFSI President Jim Estepp said. “I congratulate the Joliet Fire Department for developing an innovative EMS program that addresses a significant challenge facing the department and enhances its EMS capabilities.”
“Masimo is proud to co-sponsor the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award,” U.S. Alternate Care Senior Vice President Andy Jones said. “At Masimo, our focus is on product innovation just as fire departments find ways to innovate their services to meet the growing emergency medical challenges in their communities. As a proud cosponsor of the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS, Masimo congratulates the Joliet Fire Department for their achievements in emergency medical services.”
