In pursuit of excellence

 

We give little thought to fire-rescue until we need to call 911. Then we expect instantaneous response from competent providers. This does not happen by accident. Our local first responders work long and hard to meet those expectations.

On July 16^th, Goochland Fire-Rescue and emergency Services earned an EMS Gold level project lifeline award from The American Heart Association Project Lifeline.

The award states “Congratulations! On behalf of the American Heart Association (AHA), we would like to extend our congratulations on achieving the following for 2024 Mission: Lifeline® EMS Recognition.  Your agency is part of an elite group of prehospital providers recognized by the American Heart Association for your commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care, by ensuring that every STEMI patient receives treatment according to nationally accepted evidence-based guideline recommendations and standards.”

A  communication about this award—it was not the first time that Goochland Fire-Rescue has been recognized for excellence in this area—from Chief Ferguson said “This is a special recognition which is a direct reflection of the department’s ability to deliver state of the art prehospital cardiac and stroke care, all-encompassing of Cardiac and STEMI patient care protocols, including Pre-Hospital 12 Lead EKGs performed in a timely manner, and transport to the appropriate hospital, a PCI Center (Cath Lab).   This award is truly a TEAM achievement.  Special thanks to our EMS Providers, Operational Medical Directors, Department Leadership, County Administration, and the Board of Supervisors for supporting our department in all the ways they do, making possible the medical direction, protocols, training, funding, and the lifesaving equipment to provide the level of care we do for our patients.  Special thanks to Assistant OMD Dr. Josh Loyd, Captain Chase Stigberg, and Deputy Chief Watkins for their time spent completing our AHA ML application.”

Lt. Martin

Earlier this month, Fire-Rescue Lieutenant Kristen Martin successfully completed the process that awards the professional designation of “Fire Officer” (FO). The Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC®) met on July 9, 2024, to confer the designation. Lieutenant Martin becomes one of only 41 FOs in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of only 743 FOs worldwide. 

The Designation program is a voluntary program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate their excellence in seven measured components including experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement, and technical competence. In addition, all applicants are required to identify a future professional development plan. 

The FO designation program uses a comprehensive peer review model to evaluate candidates seeking the credential. The Commission on Professional Credentialing awards the designation only after an individual successfully meets all the organization’s stringent criteria. 

Achieving this designation signifies Lieutenant Martin’s career commitment to the fire and emergency services.

 

This professional designation is valid for three years. Maintaining the designation requires recipients to show continued growth in the areas of professional development, professional contributions, active association membership, and community involvement as well as adhere to a strict code of professional conduct. 

The Commission on Professional Credentialing, an entity of the Center for Public Safety Excellence®, Inc., (CPSE®) administers the Designation Program. The CPC consists of individuals from academia, federal and local government, and the fire and emergency medical services profession. To learn more about CPC, visit www.cpse.org/credentialing.

Firefighter EMT Mason Mire recently completed the Virginia Fire Officer Academy sponsored by the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association at the University of Richmond.