MEDIA CONTACT, Mark E. Brady, Chief PIO, 240-508-7930
MEBrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO
Largo,
MD September 9, 2019 —
The Prince George’s County, MD, Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Department has received the American Heart Association’s Mission:
Lifeline® EMS Gold
Plus Award
for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who
experience severe heart attacks.
Every year,
more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction
(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’s
critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically
opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.
The Mission: Lifeline initiative provides tools,
training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols
from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines. Mission: Lifeline’s
EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts
in improving systems of care to rapidly identify suspected heart attack
patients, promptly notify the medical center and trigger an early response from
the awaiting hospital personnel.
“The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department is dedicated to
providing optimal care for heart attack patients as well as providing the best
possible pre-hospital care for all patients in the County,” said Fire Chief Benjamin
M. Barksdale. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and
achievements in emergency medical care efforts through Mission:
Lifeline.”
“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the
system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Tim Henry, M.D., Chair
of the Mission: Lifeline Acute
Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee. “Since they often are the first medical point
of contact, they can save precious minutes of treatment time by activating the
emergency response system that alerts hospitals to an incoming heart attack
patient. We applaud the Prince George’s County
Fire/EMS Department for achieving this award
in following evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have
severe heart attacks.”
The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Departments
is one of the largest and busiest combination, career and volunteer,
Departments in the Country. The
Department responds to about 150,000 requests for service a year with about
120,000 of those requests for emergency medical services. The Department protects 500 square miles and
a population of nearly 1 million from a base of 45 Fire/EMS Stations located
throughout the County.
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