The City of Marietta and MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service were recognized by the southeast Affiliate of the American Heart Association with the “Heart Ready City” Award. The city of Marietta becomes the first “Heart Ready City” in Cobb County and one of only a few in Georgia to receive this award.
MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service Vice President, Mike Jernigan and Marietta Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs and their staff worked together with the American Heart Association in developing a strategic plan to bring the city in compliance with the requirements of the American Heart Association.
“Heart Ready” city awards were developed by the American Heart Association to acknowledge cities that are committed to community based programs that improve the Cardiac Chain of Survival for their citizens. The Cardiac Chain of Survival is a sequence of four action links that must occur quickly to help ensure the best chances of survival of a Cardiac Arrest victim: recognizing early on the emergency and phoning 9-1-1 for EMS, CPR, delivery of a shock via defibrillator if indicated and early advanced life support and post-resuscitation care.
“It has been a pleasure working with the staff at the City of Marietta and MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service. Without them, we couldn’t have accomplished what we have this past year,” said, American Heart Association’s Atlanta Mission Lifeline Director Jeffery Walker.
Marietta Fire Chief Gibbs stated, “A lot of what we’ve been able to accomplish, that Mr. Walker has talked about is due to the fact that we have such a strong partnership with our private ambulance provider Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service and because our Police Department has helped fund a major portion of this.” Gibbs stated, “We are very proud of the opportunity to receive this award”.
On hand to receive the award was Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin, Marietta Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs, Marietta Police Chief Dan Flynn and MetroAtlanta Ambulance Director of Operations, Dennis Westover.