Milwaukee County recognizes 50 years of emergency medical services

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee County is celebrating 50 years of lifesaving efforts Wednesday, Nov. 8. 

In a dedication to first responders, County Executive David Crowley presented a proclamation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Milwaukee County Emergency Medical Services Division. 

Not only did Wednesday's event honor the previous five decades, but it also looked ahead to the future.

"We're trying to push the edge of care, whether it's with enhanced cardiac arrest care or stroke care or look at ways of going outside the 911 system and to visit patients at their homes to improve their health as well," said EMS Medical Director Ben Weston. 

Milwaukee County's EMS division is busier than ever before. 

They have 112,000 patient encounters every year, a number they say is consistently going up.