The Trophy Club Fire Department has received the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver Award for 2019. The Mission Lifeline EMS recognition program is designed to showcase Emergency Medical Service organizations across the nation for excellence in prehospital care for emergencies in which time and prehospital treatment is crucial to a positive outcome for patients such as heart attacks and strokes.
“Our department’s treatment protocols, procedures, and 2019 run data were submitted for review in February and TCFD met the highest of award standards”, stated Fire Chief Wade Carroll. First-year recipients of the award receive a silver designation with gold, gold plus, etc. given for consecutive years meeting the AHA standards of care.
Every year, more than 250,000 people experience a STEMI, or ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction, a type of heart attack caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving clot-busting medication.
Unfortunately, a significant number don’t receive this prompt treatment. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency responders for their efforts in improving STEMI systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.
“This award is directly associated with the hard work of our EMS Coordinator, Captain Shane Beck, our EMS shift Field Training Officers, Matt Tackett, and Eric Sampson, and the excellent care given by all our TCFD Paramedics,” Chief Carroll stated. “I have never witnessed the level of companionate and professional care that is provided to our citizens on a daily basis and I could not be more proud of our team.”
Emergency Medical System 
providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS agencies provide access to 12-lead ECG machines (devices that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat and can help medical personnel determine if a heart attack has occurred) and follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. The correct tools and training allow EMS providers to rapidly identify the STEMI, promptly notify the medical center, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.
“The Trophy Club Fire Department is dedicated to making our organization among the best in the country, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by implementing processes for improving STEMI systems of care with the goal of improving the quality of care for all STEMI patients,” said Jonathan Phillips, Interim Town Manager for Trophy Club. “We are pleased they have been recognized for their dedication and achievements in emergency medical care for STEMI patients.
Quality patient care begins with paramedics that are well educated and trained however great medical direction and oversight from the medical control physicians are crucial to the development of treatment protocols and standards of care. The Trophy Club Fire Department partners with the B.E.S.T. EMS medical control group out of Baylor Scott and White in Grapevine. Captain Shane Beck, EMS Coordinator, stated “Dr. Justin Northeim is the Medical Director for TCFD and he has been a great resource for keeping our department on the cutting edge of EMS care and teaching our medics the art of emergency medicine”
“Over the course of the last several years, the Trophy Club Fire Department has improved its coverage, response times and care for Trophy Club residents immensely. My thanks to all of the volunteers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, staff and the department leadership for making this happen, and congratulations on this worthy recognition,” said Mayor Nick Sanders.
About Mission: Lifeline:
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 STEMI patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit www.heart.org/missionlifeline and www.heart.org/quality
About the Trophy Club Fire Department:
The Trophy Club Fire Department was initially established in 1982 as an all-volunteer organization. Today, the department has grown to include 15 professional Firefighter/Paramedics, 14 part-time professional Firefighter/EMTs, and 4 certified volunteers. The staff is committed to serving the community and providing the highest quality protection for families and their property through the effective management of fire suppression, emergency medical incidents, hazardous materials incidents, and natural or man-made disasters. For more information, visit www.trophyclub.org/firedepartment