Stratford EMS Director named 2016 Parent Heart Watch Hero
Stratford EMS & 911 Director, Michael A. Loiz
Stratford, Connecticut – Stratford EMS Director, Michael Loiz, has been named the 2016 Parent Heart Watch Hero for the category – Young Hearts Youth Medical/Allied Health Professional Champion.
The award recognizes an individual who demonstrates a continuous commitment in their local community to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in youth by taking specific actions that support the Parent Heart Watch (PHW) mission of protecting youth from Sudden Cardiac Arrest and preventable Sudden Cardiac Death.
Between 10/1/14 and 10/1/15, Michael has instituted several programs aimed at improving awareness about SCA, improving Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) rates and ensuring our youth have the very best care available.
A series of newspaper articles were placed in local newspapers explaining when and how to prevent and identify acute cardiac syndromes and cardiac arrest as well as how and when to call 9-1-1 during SCA and what to expect. As the director of 911 in Stratford CT, Michael implemented the medical priority dispatch system (MPDS) software called ProQA which provides pre-arrival instructions aimed at getting hands on chest in 20 seconds during cardiac arrest. He also deployed Atrus AED Link software. With AED Link 9-1-1, dispatchers can instantly view the location of registered AEDs near the scene of sudden cardiac arrest emergencies and instruct bystanders to retrieve one in time to help save a life.
As the Director of EMS for the Town of Stratford, CT, Mike has been instrumental in managing, maintaining and even adding to over 50+ AED’s in Town buildings. Under his direction, the EMS services trained over 1000 lay persons (many being Stratford’s youth) in CPR/AED. His staff was instrumental in adding EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) training to the local high school course offerings and he helps to oversee one of the largest and most active Emergency Medical Explorer Posts in CT. This program allows the communities youth to be trained and have an opportunity to work alongside EMS providers to gain experience in emergency medical services. Stratford EMS also provides EMR and EMT training for the public. The Town of Stratford was re-designated a HEARTSafe Community and Stratford EMS was awarded the 2015 Mission Lifeline Silver award for the identification and treatment of acute cardiac syndromes under Michael’s direction.
Michael added Physio’s LIFEPAK 15 cardiac monitors and LUCAS II automatic chest compression devices to the EMS services standard advanced life support equipment. This has resulted in a significant increase in ROSC (Return of spontaneous circulation) over the past 2 years. In 2015, Stratford EMS was awarded the Governors award for an EMS service that has positively impacted the EMS System. During Michael’s past two years at Stratford EMS as director, the EMS Department and 911 Dispatch center have seen tremendous growth and have had a truly positive impact on the community and it’s youth.
Michael will be receiving his award from Parent Heart Watch during a reception dinner at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, FL on Friday, January 15, 2016.
2016 Parent Heart Watch Hero for the category – Young Hearts Youth Medical/Allied Health Professional Champion.
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About Parent Heart Watch:
Parent Heart Watch, a 501(c)(3) public charity incorporated in late 2005, is a state by state network of parents and partners solely dedicated to reducing the often disastrous effects of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in youth. We inform, educate, advocate, and implement nationwide programs that help achieve our mission and vision objectives. Parent Heart Watch was established by parents who have lost a child to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Through our dedicated network, we are turning our tragedy into positive actions that will save young lives across the nation. The daily activities and responsibilities of PHW are facilitated by its Executive Director. Parent Heart Watch is guided by its eleven member Board of Directors and five member Medical Advisory Board. For more information: (http://www.parentheartwatch.org/)
About Stratford EMS:
The Stratford Emergency Medical Service is the basic and advanced life support ambulance / EMS provider for the Town of Stratford. Established in 1977, our mission is provide quality patient care and safe emergency transportation to the sick and injured. SEMS operates with both paid and volunteer members, EMR through Paramedic level care and offers a fleet of six ambulances and three paramedic intercept vehicles. For more information, visit (www.stratfordems.org).
