Fire department again recognized for rapid response to heart attacks, strokes

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The Farmers Branch Fire Department has once again been recognized by the American Heart Association for its emergency medical response, earning the organization's Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Achievement Award.

The award recognizes EMS agencies that consistently follow evidence-based guidelines for treating patients experiencing severe heart attacks, strokes and other time-sensitive cardiovascular emergencies.

According to the American Heart Association, rapid treatment is critical during cardiac and stroke emergencies because every minute can affect survival rates and long-term recovery. EMS personnel can begin life-saving interventions as soon as they arrive on scene, often well before a patient could reach a hospital on their own.

Farmers Branch firefighters and paramedics are trained to provide advanced cardiac care, including treatment for heart attacks, stroke assessment and resuscitation efforts for patients whose hearts have stopped. Patients transported by ambulance frequently receive faster access to specialized hospital care because EMS crews can alert emergency departments and activate treatment teams before arrival.

The Mission: Lifeline EMS program is a nationwide initiative designed to improve outcomes for patients suffering from ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs), strokes and other life-threatening cardiovascular events. The program emphasizes coordination among 9-1-1 dispatchers, first responders, EMS providers and hospitals to reduce treatment delays and improve patient survival.

The American Heart Association awards Gold status to agencies that demonstrate a sustained commitment to meeting performance standards and reporting quality-care measures.

The recognition marks another year that Farmers Branch has earned national acknowledgment for its emergency medical services program, highlighting the department's ongoing focus on delivering rapid, high-quality care when seconds matter most.

"Providing optimal outcomes for heart attack and stroke patients requires seamless coordination between first responders and healthcare systems," the American Heart Association states in its description of the Mission: Lifeline program.

For more information about the initiative, visit the American Heart Association's website at heart.org.

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