TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Presentation of the American Heart Association's 2026 Mission: Lifeline Gold Achievement Award to the North Port Fire Rescue Department.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Present the American Heart Association's 2026 Mission: Lifeline Gold Achievement Award to the North Port Fire Rescue Department.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Present the American Heart Association's 2026 Mission: Lifeline Gold Achievement Award to the North Port Fire Rescue Department.
Option 2: Do not present the award.
Background Information
The Mission: Lifeline program is the American Heart Association's national initiative to advance the system of care for patients experiencing the most severe, time-sensitive medical emergencies, particularly ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI - the deadliest form of heart attack as well as stroke.
Every year, more than 250,000 Americans suffer a STEMI heart attack. When blood flow to the heart is blocked, every single minute without treatment increases the risk of permanent damage or death. The care first responders deliver, starting the moment, someone dials 911 is often the difference between life and loss.
The North Port Fire Rescue Department has been recognized as a recipient of the 2026 Mission Lifeline Gold Award. This recognition represents excellence in the identification, treatment, and transport of patients experiencing time-sensitive cardiac emergencies and strokes. This means that North Port Fire Rescue crews consistently meet and exceed national benchmarks for rapid assessment, treatment, early electrocardiogram (ECG) acquisition, stroke recognition, appropriate notification, and seamless coordination with our receiving facilities.
This award places the North Port Fire Rescue Department among the top Emergency Medical Service systems in the country for cardiac and stroke care. Reaching Gold sig...
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