Definition: Any part of a system designed to respond to medical emergencies and provide prehospital or in-hospital treatment. Often refers to ambulances and first responders, though emergency medical services (EMS) include all services necessary to help ill or injured people return to the state of health they enjoyed before their emergencies.
Also Known As: EMS, first responders, ambulance services, emergency medical system
Examples:
After Hurricane Katrina, emergency medical services responded from all over the country.
