NEW LONDON — The American Heart Association (AHA) has recognized Firelands EMS, New London, Ohio with its 2025 Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award with Target: Stroke & Heart Attack achievement distinction.
This national recognition highlights the department’s ongoing commitment to providing rapid, research-based care for patients experiencing life-threatening heart attacks and strokes, ultimately saving lives and improving patient outcomes.
The Mission: Lifeline EMS program honors prehospital providers that consistently meet or exceed nationally accepted, evidence-based treatment guidelines for patients suffering from ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) and other time-sensitive cardiac and stroke emergencies.
The program works to streamline care from the moment 911 is called through EMS response, hospital treatment and patient discharge, helping to eliminate delays and improve outcomes.
Each year, Firelands EMS responds to over 800 calls per year, and is the primary 911 Emergency Medical Service provider for New London, New London Township, and Fitchville Township (Huron County) & Ruggles and Troy Townships (Ashland County), covering a service area of over 120 square miles.
Over a short time, the department has adopted an increasingly advanced approach to cardiac and stroke care, and as a result of instituting new advanced training, modernization of specific equipment and cardiac care equipment, increase paramedic coverage and response, and has implemented aggressive treatment protocols.
Firelands EMS has demonstrated consistent service and delivery of key areas that this award recognizes, applying evidence-based treatment guidelines to improve patient care and outcomes for the residents served by Firelands EMS each day.
Firelands EMS Chief Jeffrey Scott states, “Firelands EMS has seen tremendous growth in the past year as we have focused our efforts on improving both our crews capabilities and training, but also completing a major upgrade to our emergency response equipment that has come from the generosity of the many grants and various foundations who have invested in what we are doing to provide this excellent advance life support to our community.
“This recognition just demonstrates the value of the many hours invested by our EMS crews who are committed to ensuring quality patient care delivery where it matters most.
“Quality care, rapid access and evidence-based treatment have allowed for greater positive patient outcomes and that is a huge win for this community.”
It remains a great reminder of how important early recognition and early access of 911 can be for a loved one or friend. Firelands EMS encourages everyone to learn the early warning signs of a heart attack or stroke, and to access 911 as soon as possible.
Chief Scott states, “As of July 1, 2024, Firelands had to move from a solely volunteer agency to a combination part-paid & volunteer agency because of the substantial growth in our call volume and use of our EMS.
“This move has proven critical not only to meet the increased call volume but also ensure rapid and timely response to these critical level type calls; making sure our community is served to the best of our ability.
“With the new staffing model, while costly and demanding upon our very small agency budget, this change has allowed for much quicker access and response to our community but also helped us achieve this distinction and improve the quality of life for those we care for in these life-threatening circumstances.
“While money is very tight, and volunteerism (as EMS volunteers) is at all-time lows nationwide and even here too, we stretch every dollar we can to make sure the best care in life-threatening situations can be there for those who count on us most.”
Firelands EMS Board Member and Ruggles Township Trustee (Ashland County) Scott Stocals states, “This award reflects the dedication, expertise and compassion of our Firelands EMS team and we are so thankful for the dedication of our Firelands EMS crews, but also how their hard work has paid off to make such a huge life-changing impact on our community.
“We are lucky to have such caring and dedicated staff at the helm of our local
EMS, making a difference each day for us.”