FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Alexandria Fire Department receives American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Recognition Award

The Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline^® EMS Gold Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience a STEMI, or ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction, a type of heart attack caused by a complete 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 surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving clot-busting medication.

Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for two years and treated at least eight STEMI patients for each year. AFD is well above the minimum guidelines for each measure. 

AFD is one of 16 agencies recognized this year.         

###