Garland Fire Earns 11th Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award

For the 11th 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 Award.

"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. "I'm extremely proud of the men and women of the Garland Fire Department for continuing the standard of excellence."

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. New for 2024 is the Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll. The Target Heart Attack designation focuses on coordinating care between prehospital agencies and the destination hospital.

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 the health care system. Details can be found at heart.org.

For more information on GFD and its emergency medical services, visit GarlandFire.com.