Local EMS Crews Receive Excellence Award

Local EMS crews received an award for outstanding service. The Pocatello and Chubbuck fire departments, as well as the entire Bannock County Ambulance District were honored Thursday.

The departments were presented with an award from the American Heart Association for excellence in heart attack care. The award was given through AHA’s Lifeline EMS Recognition program.

To qualify, crews must respond and perform certain procedures on heart attack patients in a timely manner. One standard is crews must make an EKG transmission to the hospital in 10 minutes. Another standard is a balloon must be inserted for heart blockage within 90 minutes. Both of these requirements must be met at least 75% of the time. Bannock County numbers came in at 90%.

This is the second year in a row the Bannock County agency has been recognized. Since it’s the second year, they received the gold award. Pocatello fire chief David Gates said he’s very proud of his crew and all the work they put into EMS.

“It’s a huge honor, I think,” Gates said. “We’re very proud of our guys, I think we have an exceptional department that works really hard to provide the best service they can to the citizens and I think this is indicative of that effort.”

“As far as from the patient standpoint, it really makes sure that no matter where you are, you’re going to receive consistent, high-quality care. And that’s why we do these awards and these quality programs,” said Tami Swart, regional director for the American Heart Association.

Bannock County is only the second agency in all of Idaho and Utah to receive this award. Ada County paramedics is the only other one that’s been honored.