Sarasota Fire Department wins global award for cardiac response program

The Sarasota County Fire Department has won global recognition for excellence in emergency cardiac care, earning the Heart Safe Community award for a large community from the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The award recognizes EMS systems around the world that demonstrate effective strategies for addressing cardiac emergencies. The Fire-Rescue Med Conference in Las Vegas, on May 7, presented the award to SCFD.

Utilizing multi-faceted community risk reduction programs, including hands-only CPR with automated external defibrillator training at Sarasota County public high schools, local businesses and homeowner associations, SCFD trained 2,737 high school students and 347 residents on the techniques in 2024.

"Our commitment to the public is that they have access to the best cardiac arrest pre-hospital care," said SCFD Chief David Rathbun in a news release. “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.”

SCFD encourages residents to help build 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.

Across Sarasota County and its municipalities are 887 registered PulsePoint AEDs. Since 2021, SCFD has helped increase the number of registered AEDs by 700 through community outreach and education.

The American Heart Association’s Mission has also recognized the SCFD for nine consecutive years: Lifeline awards for excellence in heart attack, stroke care and hospital collaboration.