Department has received organization’s highest recognition each year since 2016
The Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) once again has earned national recognition from the American Heart Association, receiving the 2025 Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Award for care of patients who have suffered heart attacks and strokes, county staff has announced.
“This achievement highlights SCFD’s commitment to providing rapid, research-based care to people experiencing acute chest pain, heart attacks and strokes, ultimately saving lives,” a news release points out.
“The Mission: Lifeline EMS award focuses on agencies’ on-scene care, emphasizing the collaboration and contributions of prehospital providers to overall patient outcomes,” the release continues. “SCFD has received the American Heart Association’s highest recognition each year since 2016,” it notes.
In 2024, 4% of SCFD Emergency Medical Service (EMS) responses “were related to cardiac or stroke incidents,” the release continues. “Each day,” it adds, SCFD personnel transport more than 100 patients to area hospitals.
“It is through the incredible work of our Sarasota County Fire Department personnel and the collaboration from local hospitals that we have achieved this recognition,” said Fire Chief David Rathbun in the release. “Sarasota County Fire Department is dedicated to providing the best possible care to all patients and we are grateful to our partners in care and honored to be recognized once again for these efforts,” he added.
As the American Heart Association notes, “the Mission: Lifeline EMS program honors prehospital agencies nationwide for excellence in heart attack and stroke care,” the release continues.
“This recognition from the American Heart Association exemplifies the first-rate care Sarasota County Fire Department provides to the community,” said Sarasota County Emergency Services Director Rich Collins in the release. “Our personnel train every day to serve the residents and visitors of Sarasota County and this award is evidence of that hard work.”
For more information, visit scgov.net/fire or dial 311.