By Leila Merrill
SAN DIEGO — The nomination period is open for the Heart Safe Community Awards, which recognize agencies that have demonstrated creative approaches to improving therapies for patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes and its life-threatening complication, sudden cardiac arrest.
The awards are presented to a fire department serving a community of over 100,000 and to a fire department serving a community under 100,000 people.
The IAFC EMS Section and Fire-Rescue Med are presenting the awards.
Agencies and systems nominated will have demonstrated their creative approaches to improving therapies for patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes and sudden cardiac arrest, through:
- Bystander CPR
- AED deployment (i.e., AED registries/locations, PAD programs, First Response)
- Out-of-hospital 12-lead ECGs
- 12-lead ECG advanced notification to the receiving hospital
- Partnering with local hospitals to improve outcomes from ACS and sudden cardiac arrest
- Communication and outreach programs to increase awareness and prevention of sudden cardiac arrest and heart attacks
- Use of mobile technology to engage and activate citizen and off-duty responders to sudden cardiac arrest events
- Additional criteria to be determined in cooperation with sponsor and subject to final approval by the IAFC EMS Section”
The deadline for nominations is June 1. Learn more about the award and how to submit a nomination here.