Bay County Fire Rescue Wins AHA Award for Stroke Care

Bay County Fire Rescue has won the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Achievement Award for the second consecutive year, recognizing the department's performance in treating stroke and cardiac patients.

The national award honors emergency medical services agencies that demonstrate excellence in delivering rapid, coordinated care for patients experiencing strokes and heart attacks. Bay County Fire Rescue meets the association's evidence-based care standards.

Capt. Amber Leach, the department's Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Officer, led the award application by collecting and analyzing data from multiple reporting platforms to demonstrate the county's adherence to national standards.

EMS personnel can begin treatment as soon as they arrive on scene, often up to an hour sooner than if a patient travels to the hospital by private vehicle. They provide lifesaving interventions, including resuscitation efforts for patients experiencing cardiac arrest.

The recognition coincides with the county's expansion of emergency medical services. In May, the department added two additional 24-hour ambulances, bringing the total number of frontline ambulances to 10 for the first time since 2004.

Mission: Lifeline EMS® is the American Heart Association's national initiative to improve systems of care for patients with severe heart attacks, strokes and other life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies. The program focuses on reducing barriers to prompt treatment from the moment 911 is called through hospital treatment and recovery.