The Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) has been internationally recognized for excellence in emergency cardiac care, earning the Heart Safe Community award for a large community from the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).
The Heart Safe Community Award honors EMS systems across the world that demonstrate effective strategies for addressing cardiac emergencies, from public education to rapid response interventions. The award was presented to SCFD during the Fire-Rescue Med Conference May 7, recognizing the department’s outstanding efforts in these areas.
More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals each year, according to the American Heart Association, making immediate action critical to survival.
In Fiscal Year 2024, Sarasota County set a high standard, surpassing both state and national averages with:
- A 46.5% bystander CPR rate.
- 32.6% of patients experiencing non-traumatic cardiac arrest achieving restoration of a sustained heart rhythm.
- A 27.7% overall survival to hospital discharge.
SCFD utilizes multi-faceted community risk reduction programs, including hands-only CPR with Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training at Sarasota County public high schools, local businesses and homeowner associations. In 2024, 2,737 high school students and 347 residents were trained in hands-only CPR.
SCFD has submitted data to the Cardiac Arrest Registry for Enhanced Survival (CARES) since June 2022. This data compares agencies at both the state and national level.
“Our commitment to the public is that they have access to the best cardiac arrest pre-hospital care,” said David Rathbun, Chief of Sarasota County Fire Department. “Our residents and visitors deserve the best and this award is a testament to the collaboration between our first responders and community members who are empowered to act when every second counts.”
Residents are encouraged to help SCFD continue building a heart-safe community by learning hands-only CPR at an SCFD Open House and downloading the PulsePoint app. The app provides real-time alerts for nearby cardiac arrests, maps the locations of registered AEDs and assists with dispatch-aided care.
There are 887 registered PulsePoint AEDs across Sarasota County and its municipalities, expanding life-saving access during emergencies. Since 2021, SCFD has helped increase the number of registered AEDs by 700 through community outreach and education. If an AED is available, use it. Turn it on and follow the prompts. To learn more and download the PulsePoint app, visit pulsepoint.org/download.
The Sarasota County Fire Department has also been recognized for nine consecutive years by the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline awards for excellence in heart attack, stroke care and hospital collaboration to improve patient outcomes. This is due to the department’s progressive evidence-based heart attack protocols including pre-hospital EKG transmission to decrease time to definitive care and the incredible work of personnel.
These awards highlight not only SCFD’s excellence in emergency care, but also its commitment to making Sarasota County a safe place to live, work and play.