For the eighth year in a row, the Garland Fire Department has received a Mission: Lifeline EMS Recognition Award from the American Heart Association. This award is for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
For its continued mastery of performance standards, the department was recognized with the Gold Plus Award for 2021.
“To say I’m proud of this organization is an understatement,” said Chief Mark Lee. “I witness the awesome jobs performed daily. It is great to see outside organizations recognizing this, too.”
Each year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction, the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart. To prevent death, it is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks – starting from when 911 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Optimal care for heart attack patients takes coordination between the individual hospital, EMS and health care system.
The criteria to achieve the Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold award is based on consistently delivering the right patient to the right hospital in the right amount of time when encountering patients having significant heart attacks. Detailed information can be found at heart.org.
For more information on GFD and its emergency medical services, visit GarlandFire.com.