[Archived] Alexandria Fire Department Receives American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Recognition Award

For Immediate Release: June 19, 2019

The Alexandria Fire Department recently 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.

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 Fire Department is very proud to be a part of the American Heart Association’s efforts to turn guidelines into lifelines.

“The Alexandria Fire Department is committed to providing quality care when responding to medical emergencies in our community,” said Acting Deputy Chief of EMS Brian Hricik. “Implementing the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline program helps us reach that goal.”

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience 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.

“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 Alexandria Fire Department for achieving this award in following evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”

For more information or media inquiries, contact Senior Public Information Officer Raytevia Evans, at raytevia.evans@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5190.