January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month

The Georgia Department of Public Health Office of EMS and Trauma in partnership with Governor Brian Kemp, and First Lady Marty Kemp, is launching voluntary training for EMS personnel on how to identify potential victims of human trafficking. The EMS training is in conjunction with Human Trafficking Prevention Month and provides an opportunity to raise awareness and combat this heinous crime.

As first responders, EMS personnel often have unique opportunities to encounter and assist victims of human trafficking. Their critical role makes it essential to recognize the signs, respond appropriately, and navigate the legal aspects of human trafficking. This voluntary training program is designed to empower EMS providers with the skills, tools, and knowledge they need to identify potential trafficking victims, provide effective support, and take informed action.

“EMS personnel are often the only public safety or healthcare providers to give care to victims of human trafficking,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. “This training offers EMS providers an opportunity to deepen their understanding of human trafficking, gain insight into relevant laws, and enhance their ability to support victims in their most vulnerable moments.”

EMS personnel can access the training at https://www.train.org/georgia/course/1126600/details.

In Georgia, more than 370 girls are trafficked each month. The average age of a human trafficking victim in Georgia is 14.8 years old. However, human trafficking affects all genders, all ages, and all social and economic groups.

“I want to thank both the team at DPH for their efforts in developing this training and all of our EMS personnel who do so much to promote the health of Georgians and help us fight human trafficking,” said Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp. “These brave first responders are in a critically important role, interacting with survivors in their most vulnerable moments. By knowing the signs and how to report them, they can go even further in their work to save lives.”

All Georgians are encouraged to take part in the First Lady’s Human Trafficking Awareness Training. The training is free and available online.

To report suspected human trafficking in Georgia, call the Statewide 24-Hour Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-866-ENDHTGA (1-866-363-4842). If you have reason to believe that a victim is in imminent danger, call 911 or your local law enforcement agency to file a report.

Working together, we can shine a light on human trafficking and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected.