News Details

Oceanside Fire Department Awarded Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award

August 25, 2020

The Oceanside Fire Department received the Lifeline EMS Gold Plus award from the American Heart Association.  This year marks the sixth consecutive year that the Department earned the award, which measures agency success metrics in the rapid identification and treatment of heart attack victims.  The Oceanside Fire Department is continually implementing quality improvement measures fot the treatment of patients who experience life threatening 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 is 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, MD, 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 Oceanside Fire Department EMS for achieving this award in following evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”