The Germantown Fire Department has been distinguished nationally for its exemplary emergency services, receiving the 2025 Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award from the American Heart Association (AHA). Along with this honor, they achieved the Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Heart Attack achievement distinctions, as reported by Germantown's official news release. These acknowledgments underscore the department's dedication to providing immediate, evidence-based care for those facing critical heart attacks and strokes.
The commendation from the AHA showcases how the local EMS has consistently met or surpassed national treatment guidelines for severe cardiac emergencies. According to statistics, the Germantown Fire Department jumps into action for approximately 5,000 calls each year, with a noteworthy 70% being medical emergencies. Among these are the critical cases of 45 to 60 cardiac arrests annually.
Intervention measures at Germantown are notably advanced. In 2017, the department was one of the firsts to adopt a complete neuroprotective bundle of care. This included innovative tools like the Elegard Patient Positioning System and the resQPOD impedance threshold device to help circulation and brain function during patient resuscitation. "Our neuroprotective program is state of the art," EMS Chief Jerome Cole remarked in a statement obtained by City of Germantown news outlet.
Outcomes from these interventions are remarkable, with a reported 48% return of spontaneous circulation rate, which notably surpasses the national average of under 10 percent. "Our survival-to-discharge rate also significantly outpaces the national average of just 4%," stated EMS Chief Jerome Cole as per the City of Germantown website. Germantown's EMS crews, being prompt on the scene, offer faster and more effective treatment, training all personnel in administering high-quality CPR and initiating advanced resuscitation efforts. This has significantly improved the chances of patient survival.
Mayor Mike Palazzolo took the opportunity to praise local emergency services, saying, "This award reflects the dedication, expertise and compassion of our Germantown Fire Department," as mentioned on the City of Germantown website. He credited their commitment to outstanding emergency medical care for the positive impact on the Germantown community.
