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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br />Contact: Alan Thompson <br />EMS Director, Cabarrus County <br />704/920 -2601 <br />dathompson @cabarruscounty.us <br />Cabarrus County EMS receives American Heart Association's <br />Mission: Lifeline EMS GOLD Recognition Award <br />CONCORD, NC 2015 Cabarrus County EMS has received the American Heart <br />Association's Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award for implementing quality improvement <br />measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks. <br />Every year, more than 250,000 people experience a STEMI, or ST Elevation Myocardial <br />Infarction, a type of heart attack caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart that <br />requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it's critical to restore blood now as quickly as <br />possible, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving clot- busting medication. <br />Unfortunately, a significant number don't receive prompt reperfusion therapy, which is <br />critical in restoring blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that <br />separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline's EMS <br />recognition program recognizes those emergency responders for their efforts in improving <br />STEMI systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients. <br />Emergency Medical System providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS <br />agencies provide access to 12 -lead ECG machines (devices that measures the electrical activity <br />of the heartbeat and can help medical personnel determine if a heart attack has occurred), and <br />follow protocols derived from American Heart Association /American College of Cardiology <br />guidelines. The correct tools and training allow EMS providers to rapidly identify the STEMI, <br />promptly notify the medical center, and trigger and early response from the awaiting hospital <br />personnel. <br />Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold award have demonstrated at least 75 percent <br />compliance for each required achievement measure for two years and treated at least eight <br />STEMI patients for each year. Cabarrus EMS received 100 percent compliance in each measure. <br />"EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart <br />attacks," said Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association/ <br />American Stroke Association. "Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can <br />shave precious minutes of life- saving treatment time by activating the emergency response <br />Attachment number 2 <br />C -2 Page 34 <br />