International recognition accorded to department for excellence in emergency cardiac care
The Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) has been recognized internationally for excellence in emergency cardiac care, earning the Heart Safe Community award for a large community from the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), county staff has announced.
“The Heart Safe Community Award honors EMS systems across the world that demonstrate effective strategies for addressing cardiac emergencies, from public education to rapid response interventions,” a news release explains.
The award was presented to Sarasota County Fire Department representatives during the Fire-Rescue Med Conference held on May 7, the release adds.
More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals each year, “according to the American Heart Association, making immediate action critical to survival,” the release notes.
In the 2024 fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30. 2024, the Sarasota County Fire Department “set a high standard, surpassing both state and national averages,” as illustrated by the following statistics, the release adds:
- A 46.5% rate of CPR delivery by bystanders.
- 32.6% of patients experiencing non-traumatic cardiac arrest, achieving restoration of a sustained heart rhythm.
- A 27.7% overall survival rate to hospital discharge.
“SCFD utilizes multi-faceted community risk reduction programs, including hands-only CPR with Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training at Sarasota County public high schools, local businesses and homeowner associations,” the release points out. “In 2024, 2,737 high school students and 347 residents were trained in hands-only CPR,” the release says.
“SCFD has submitted data to the Cardiac Arrest Registry for Enhanced Survival (CARES) since June 2022,” the release continues. This data is used to compare agencies at both the state and national levels, it notes.
“Our commitment to the public is that they have access to the best cardiac arrest pre-hospital care,” said fire Chief David Rathbun in the release. “Our residents and visitors deserve the best, and this award is a testament to the collaboration between our first responders and community members who are empowered to act when every second counts,” he added in the release.
Residents are encouraged to help the Fire Department members “continue building a heart-safe community by learning hands-only CPR at an SCFD Open House and downloading the PulsePoint app. The app provides real-time alerts for nearby cardiac arrests, maps the locations of registered AEDs and assists with dispatch-aided care,” the release explains.
Altogether, the release says, 887 registered PulsePoint AEDs are available “across Sarasota County and its municipalities, expanding life-saving access during emergencies. Since 2021, SCFD has helped increase the number of registered AEDs by 700 through community outreach and education,” the release adds.
“If an AED is available,” the release encourages the public, “use it. Turn it on and follow the prompts. To learn more and download the PulsePoint app, visit pulsepoint.org/download.”
The Sarasota County Fire Department also has been “recognized for nine consecutive years by the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline awards for excellence in heart attack, stroke care and hospital collaboration to improve patient outcomes,” the release points out. That is a result of “the department’s progressive evidence-based heart attack protocols including pre-hospital EKG transmission to decrease time to definitive care and the incredible work of personnel,” the release says.
“These awards highlight not only SCFD’s excellence in emergency care, but also its commitment to making Sarasota County a safe place to live, work and play,” the release adds.