SALISBURY FIRE DEPARTMENT HONORED WITH EMS LIFELINE AWARD

Salisbury, MD - Congratulations to the City of Salisbury Fire Department for being honored by the American Heart Association's (AHA) Mission: Lifeline® EMS program with national recognition for their outstanding care by a prehospital provider. The name of the award is the Gold with Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll. After earning the Bronze, Silver, and Silver Plus awards the past three years, the department has finally been honored with a Gold recognition.Departments can earn Gold recognition by having a minimum patient volume of at least 8 STEMI patients transported directly to a STEMI care center. STEMI stands for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and it is the most severe type of heart attack. The Salisbury Fire Department also had to have at least a 75% adherence to Mission: Lifeline® EMS quality measures and show that they strive to create improved care for STEMI heart patients in order to receive Gold recognition."STEMI survivors are at a higher risk of heart failure and the rate of survival for this type of heart attack is lower than other types. As with most medical emergencies, the chance of survival is higher the faster and better the care is, and the Salisbury Fire Department has proven again and again that we are dedicated to providing that much-needed care," said Salisbury Department Fire Chief John Tull. "Our team has been honored with different levels of this award for the past three years, showing a consistent increase in the quality of care that we provide."Along with the recognition certificate, the Fire Department will receive promotional materials from the AHA along with a guide on how to promote their award. This award establishes that the Fire Department has provided outstanding care in heart related medical emergencies over the past 24 months."Our EMS staff has once again proven their dedication to the health and safety of our City," said Mayor Jack Heath. "This award was thoroughly deserved because of the hard work of the first responders that spend everyday caring for their community. Congratulations again to the Fire Department."You can visit the American Heart Association to learn more about this program, STEMI care, and other heart conditions.© Eastern Shore Undercover LLC TM/SM. All Rights Reserved.