Honor recognizes improvements in measures to treat patients experiencing severe heart attacks
The Sarasota County Fire Department has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award for the third year in a row, the department has announced.
The honor puts the spotlight on improvements in measures to treat patients experiencing severe heart attacks, a news release explains.
The Sarasota County Fire Department has more than 500 emergency medical service (EMS) staff members who undergo training for basic and advanced cardiac life support, the release points out. Each year, more than 250,000 people in the United States “experience the deadliest type of heart attack, which is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart,” the release adds.
“The Mission: Lifeline initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care, following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines,” the release explains. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS program recognizes emergency medical services for efforts to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify medical centers and achieve fast responses from hospital personnel, the release adds.
“Sarasota County is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Carson Sanders, assistant chief of EMS Operations, in the release.
According to the American Heart Association, emergency medical technicians and paramedics are often the first medical point of contact for individuals suffering from a heart attack, the release notes.
Sanders attributed this third year in a row of recognition for Sarasota County to monthly educational opportunities for staff, along with the continued monitoring of critical patient outcomes.
“We are proud of our department’s efforts,” Sanders added.