SALISBURY, MD — Salisbury Fire Department has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver Achievement Award, honoring the department’s excellence in treating patients suffering from the most critical types of heart attacks and strokes.
The national recognition celebrates the department’s focus on enhancing patient outcomes for those facing severe cardiovascular emergencies through prompt, scientifically-backed medical care that begins before hospital arrival.
“We are proud to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our team’s commitment to excellence and our shared mission to improve patient outcomes. The Mission: Lifeline program enables us to apply best practices and clinical guidelines every day to give our patients the best possible chance of survival.”
Emergency medical services providers serve as a vital component in the survival chain, frequently beginning treatment up to an hour sooner than patients who transport themselves to hospitals. EMS teams receive training in quickly identifying heart attacks and strokes, performing resuscitation procedures, and ensuring swift transport, all contributing to faster medical interventions once patients reach the hospital.
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS represents a nationwide effort focused on strengthening care systems for patients facing high-risk, time-critical medical emergencies. This program fosters cooperation between EMS departments, emergency dispatch centers, and hospitals to remove obstacles to immediate treatment from the moment of the initial 911 call through hospital discharge.
“Arguably the most important link in the chain of survival for acute stroke and cardiovascular emergencies is emergency medical services and prehospital professionals,” said Kacey Kronenfeld, M.D., FAEMS, Chair of the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Taskforce. “Early identification, stabilization, and coordination within regional systems of care give patients the best chance for rapid, definitive therapies and positive outcomes.”
“This recognition reflects the dedication and excellence of the Salisbury Fire Department. We are proud of our firefighters and EMS personnel for the lifesaving care they provide to our community every day,” said Mayor Randy Taylor.
The Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver Achievement Award honors agencies for their work to enhance comprehensive care and patient outcomes. Through achieving specific program benchmarks, The Salisbury Fire Department has shown its commitment to providing exceptional care throughout each phase of patient treatment.
