By Ann Craig-Cinnamon
The Fishers Dept. of Fire and Emergency Services recently received the American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline EMS Silver Award. Fire Chief Steve Orusa presented the award on behalf of the Heart Association to the town council during its July 7 meeting.
Orusa told the Council that, specifically, the award recognizes the town’s ability to save heart attack patients.
“It is an example of the success of our ‘Protecting the Heart of Fishers’ initiative which starts with CPR, hypertension education, strategically placed paramedics on fire engines and on ambulances,” said Orusa.
The save rate for a person with a heart attack nationally is 10 percent according to the Chief and in the town of Fishers this year it is 73 percent.
“In addition to that, there is an international gold standard for time to remove the blockage for a heart attack victim. Because the sooner you can remove the blockage the more chance you have to survive. The national gold standard is from emergency room door to when the blockage is removed is 90 minutes. In the town of Fishers it’s from patient contact, not the emergency door, to when that blockage is removed is 55 minutes. So we’re pretty excited about the statistics and we look forward to hopefully maintaining that for the rest of the year,” said Orusa.
Fishers Fire Dept. is one of only three EMS providers in the state recognized by the AHA for their assessment and treatment of patients with heart attacks.
At the July 7 meeting, the Council was also formally introduced to the newest members of the Fishers Fire Department who recently graduated from firefighter training school.
In other business, the council approved a resolution designating the former Sony Distribution Center at 121st St. and Cumberland Rd. an Economic Revitalization Area. The move paved the way for a new business to take over the space. Jarden Home Brands, a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation has announced plans to open a new regional operation in that location.
Also, in an earlier work session, the Council agreed to name the new park at 101st and Cyntheanne Road, Flat Fork Creek Park. The town had asked the public to submit ideas for names for the new park and five of the submissions were picked and then voted on by the public. Flat Fork Creek Park was not among the top five choices. The public chose the name “The Grounds at 101st.
