Emergency Medical Services are highly visible, and therefore influential, organizations in today's communities. Furthermore, the individual EMS member is playing an increasingly important role in shaping the public's image of their service. That is where PIER comes into play. EMS providers need to be able to effectively disseminate the facts to the media, and ultimately, to the public for a variety of EMS-related scenerios. For example, automobile crashes, natural disasters, county council meetings, fundraising events and other campaigns would all be considered public information.
Public relations is the process of shaping public opinion.
Public relations involves all aspects of the EMS service including public information and public education activities. Customer service and the appearance of EMS stations, ambulances and employees also influence the public's perception. South Carolina's PIER program is sponsored by the DHEC's Office of EMS - EMS Youth Highway Safety Campaign . The day-long training session addresses ways to fund PIER activities, methods of effectively communicating with the media, and suggestions for developing and promoting community injury prevention programs. Based on the national curriculum, this original PIER workshop is approved for six continuing education hours toward instructor re-certification under DHEC Training Criteria.