Thanks to new technology, our Goodyear Fire Department paramedics and other area EMS partners in conjunction with the West Valley Hospital helped more than 50 heart attack patients in April receive the care they needed nearly 20 percent faster than national guidelines recommend.

These patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions, or STEMI, were transported to West Valley Hospital, where they received procedures in the cath lab. STEMI is an exceptionally dangerous type of heart attack that involves one or more of the arteries in the heart becoming blocked, usually when a bit of plaque breaks off. When this happens, oxygen can't reach the heart and the cells begin to starve and die. The clogged artery must be opened fast, and every minute counts.

The STEMI sends out an electrical signal that can be detected by an electrocardiogram the Fire Department carries. The EKG can be administered while transporting the patient to the hospital. Using Bluetooth technology, critical information goes straight to the Emergency Department where personnel begin the "chest pain rapid response" before the patient even arrives at the ambulance bay, shaving as much as 20 minutes off the "door-to-balloon time" gold standard of 90 minutes.

Councilmember, Frank Cavaliere