Las Vegas Among Safest Cities For Heart Attack Victims
If Las Vegas Firefighters' Model Approach to Cutting-Edge Technology was Expanded Across the Country, Millions of Lives Could be Saved
Las Vegas, NV – If you're going to have a heart attack, Las Vegas is where you want to be. For about two years, Las Vegas firefighters have been utilizing new cutting-edge, life saving hypothermia therapy with phenomenal results to stabilize heart attack patients. The success rate from this procedure is startling.
On average, nationally in major metropolitan areas, only five to 10 percent of sudden cardiac arrest patients survive the trip to the hospital. Since implementing the new treatment, Las Vegas firefighters have experienced their save rate increasing to 44 percent; and some quarterly reports, the figure is as high as 51 percent. The new technology was started in partnership with University Medical Center physicians, and the results have been nothing short of phenomenal. Las Vegas is one of just a handful of major American cities using this technology.
“Your best possible chance of surviving a heart attack is to be stabilized at the scene and transported by a paramedic trained firefighter," explained Dean Fletcher, president of the Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285. "Our fire-based Rescue/Ambulance crews are using this break through hypothermia therapy, which lowers the patient’s body temperature and has survival rates skyrocketing. If our life saving model was expanded across the country, millions of lives could be saved. Just as important, the technology also seems to lessen the terrible, debilitating side effects of heart attack that can destroy quality of life.”An additional benefit has been millions of dollars in savings benefiting taxpayers. One year ago, the firefighters were trying to reach a goal of $4.5 million in new revenue generated by Firefighter Paramedic Emergency Transport in the City of Las Vegas. Today, the firefighters can report $5.9 million to benefit City of Las Vegas taxpayers.
Firefighters have a better track record of life saving when it comes to treating and transporting cardiac arrest patients. In addition to technology, the positive impacts of patient care in Las Vegas are based on quick response times that place a six-person rapid response team, rescue ambulance and engine at the patient's side within four to six minutes. By responding in that time frame, the patient has the highest chance of survival from an emergency such as a sudden cardiac arrest. According to Fletcher, the public needs to be educated about utilizing compression only CPR until the firefighter paramedic can get to the scene.
In addition, the high positive survival rate of victims who are not permanently incapacitated means they don’t require further medical or city services, which ultimately lessens a financial burden on city government. Better yet, survivors can go on to live vital lives.
Part of a nationwide pilot program, with these new cooling aid technologies, the firefighter can then begin working on saving the victim’s brain. As first responders, firefighters are able to administer the cooling therapy to the patients in the field immediately upon arrival before rushing patients to the hospital.
Dr. David Slattery, medical director for the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue is credited with employing this new technology throughout the valley. Because of the foresight of the doctor, firefighters are excited about the possibilities for big changes for patients across Las Vegas.
In addition to the hypothermia therapies, Las Vegas Firefighters are utilizing Auto Pulse, which is a circumferential compression device that delivers automatic chest compressions for CPR to patients who have suffered from a heart attack. By embracing new technologies, cutting-edge methods and lightening fast response times, Las Vegas firefighters are helping increase the survival rates for cardiac arrest patients. Firefighters are breaking new ground and quickly revolutionizing patient care.