Strongsville Fire Department Wins Lifesaving Award

STRONGSVILLE, OH — The Strongsville Fire and Emergency Services department received an important award this month: the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus.

Strongsville's Fire Department has received this award for several years running. The award recognizes a department that has implemented quality improvement measures for helping people having heart attacks.

“Strongsville Fire and Emergency Services is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” Fire Chief Jack Draves said. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care efforts through Mission: Lifeline."

More than 250,000 people annually have an ST elevation myocardial infraction, the deadliest type of heart attack. 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, according to the American Heart Association.

Mission: Lifeline provides tools and training to support heart attack care in these circumstances.

Draves credited his team of paramedics and staff at Southwest General for helping Strongsville Fire Department save lives.

"We are successful in treating these cardiac patients because everyone does their part to provide quality medical care in the prehospital setting, in the emergency department, and in the cardiac unit," he said.