CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Department of Public Safety’s EMS Division has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award.
Okaloosa EMS earned the honor for implementing quality improvement measures to treat patients with severe heart attacks.
Every year, more than 250,000 people experience a STEMI, or ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction, a heart attack caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart; it requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by surgically opening a blocked vessel or by giving clot-busting medication.
Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing gaps that separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Its EMS recognition program recognizes emergency responders for their efforts in improving STEMI systems of care and improving patients’ quality of life.
Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for two years and treated at least eight STEMI patients per year.
“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Nancy Brown, the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association’s chief executive officer. Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals.
“We applaud Okaloosa County Department of Public Safety-EMS Division for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa EMS receives American Heart Association award