With the busiest single-station fire department in Cuyahoga County, the Parma Heights Fire Department annually goes on more than 3,800 runs, many of which are cardiac-care related.
It’s for this reason why the American Heart Association recently awarded the Parma Heights Fire Department a Mission Lifeline Recognition Award from University Hospital Parma Medical Center for providing outstanding pre-hospital cardiac care. “The criteria includes early 12-lead acquisition, early recognition of STEMI and early notification to the emergency department,” said UH Department of EMS Training and Disaster Preparedness Manager Joe Toth.
“This leads to early activation of the cardiac catheterization lab, which leads to timely reperfusion. Every second counts when it involves the heart.”