Pasco Fire Rescue Earns National Award From Heart Association

LAND O' LAKES, FL — Pasco County Fire Rescue has received the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients suffering severe heart attacks.

Each year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardialinfarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment.

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 emergency medical services transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge.

Optimal care for heart attack patients takes coordination between the hospital, EMS and health care system.

Program participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care for STEMI patients.

"We are so incredibly proud of our staff here at Pasco County Fire Rescue. Thank you to our staff to have earned this national recognition for our efforts in implementing quality improvement measures for treatment of patients who experience cardiac arrest." said Pasco County Fire Rescue Fire Chief Scott Cassin.