Leon County Receives Top Honor from American Heart Association

For immediate release: July 12, 2022

Leon County Receives Top Honor from American Heart Association

Emergency Medical Services Recognized for Exceptional Treatment of Heart Attacks with Lifeline Gold Plus Award

Leon County Emergency Medical Services (LCEMS) has received the 2022 American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award for its commitment to exceptional care and treatment of patients experiencing a severe form of heart attacks, ultimately saving lives.

This prestigious award recognizes LCEMS training and treatment protocols that help rapidly identify and treat patients experiencing ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Each year, more than 250,000 Americans suffer from an STEMI, the deadliest type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart requiring timely treatment to survive.

“We are exceedingly delighted by the national recognition and earned achievement of Leon County's paramedics and our Emergency Medical Services team. They are a real community asset who perform routinely at extraordinary high levels of efficiency,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Bill Proctor. “LCEMS adds velocity to the overall awesome performance demonstrated across major categories by various units of County Government.”

In line with best practices, Leon County paramedics are equipped and trained to identify STEMI in the field and then promptly notify the receiving facility to trigger an early response. By helping facilities prepare in advance of a transport, Leon County paramedics help increase survival rates.

“Our County paramedics have made it a practice to exceed national benchmarks and provide exceptional service to our community so patients have the best possible chance of survival,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long.

In addition to the 2022 Gold Plus Mission: Lifeline Award, Leon County EMS was recognized with a Gold Plus Mission: Lifeline Award in 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the Silver Mission: Lifeline Award in 2017 and 2016.

“Leon County EMS is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing the highest quality of emergency care to our residents,” said Leon County EMS Chief Chad Abrams. “I am proud of our team’s continued commitment to excellence.”

For more information, contact EMS Major Sally Davis, Leon County Emergency Medical Services, at (850) 606-2100 / DavisSal@LeonCountyFL.gov or Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / cmr@LeonCountyFL.gov .

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association (AHA) is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. The AHA teams with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.

About Mission: Lifeline

Launched in 2014, the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline^® program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for acute coronary syndrome patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org.