The Garland Fire Department has once again demonstrated commitment to exceptional cardiac emergency care, as they've been awarded the prestigious Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award for the 11th consecutive year. This American Heart Association honor highlights the department's ongoing efforts to quickly and efficiently treat heart attack patients. As detailed in the City of Garland, the award is a testament to their success in meeting specified quality improvement measures.
"Our paramedics identify someone is experiencing a heart attack, so they move quickly with their treatments, then to the ambulance, and notify the receiving cardiac center that they are coming with a heart attack. This cuts out minutes of time and provides greater chances of survival,” said Garland Fire Chief Mark Lee, as cited by the City of Garland. He also expressed his pride in the team's commitment to maintaining their standard of excellence. This year, the Department has not only sustained its high performance but also actively engaged in the new Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll – an initiative that seeks closer coordination between prehospital agencies and hospitals.
Nationally, over 250,000 individuals annually suffer an ST elevation myocardial infarction, the most serious form of heart attack caused by a blood flow blockage to the heart. To combat this, the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program focuses on ensuring timely care, which includes efficient 911 responses, EMS transport, and comprehensive hospital treatment.
