Cincinnati Fire Department wins American Heart Association Mission Lifeline gold recognitions for heart‑attack and stroke care

The Cincinnati Fire Department received two national recognitions from the American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline EMS program: gold status in the 2025 Mission Lifeline EMS recognition program for both heart attack and stroke care and the American Heart Association Gold Star Status Award for ambulance service.

Chair Scottie Johnson called Chief Frank McKinley to the committee chamber and publicly recognized the department’s achievement. “The Cincinnati Fire Department has once again achieved gold award status for the pre hospital portion of the AHA mission lifetime application,” Johnson said. Chief McKinley credited members, city leadership and partner institutions: “It’s been a collaborative effort… I would also like to recognize Doctor Calhoun, our medical director, Chief Winston, Captain Yule, and his staff along with our other partners from UC that help train and prepare our members.”

The nut graf: The Mission Lifeline EMS recognition program evaluates prehospital emergency care systems across the full chain of care — from the 911 call through hospital treatment — against performance measures for time‑sensitive cardiovascular events. Chief McKinley summarized the criteria that EMS agencies must meet to achieve gold status, including rapid diagnosis (for example, performing a 12‑lead electrocardiogram within 10 minutes of first medical contact for chest pain), timely hospital notification, limiting on‑scene time, and documented stroke screening with accurate last‑known‑well time.

Committee members praised the department’s work and noted the local benefit: “In those critical situations, minutes make a difference,” Chair Johnson said. Multiple council members thanked the chief and department for their service; a council member observed this puts Cincinnati “on the map” and noted the department’s historical role as the nation’s first paid professional fire department.

Chief McKinley told the committee this is the first time the department has earned two Mission Lifeline honors in the same year and said the recognitions reflect training, internal protocols and external partnerships. He said the awards are evidence of consistent, evidence‑based care in the field and thanked city leadership and training partners for supporting the department’s mission.

Ending: The recognitions highlight the department’s prehospital capabilities for heart attack and stroke care and the city’s investments in training and interagency coordination; the committee’s public acknowledgment was ceremonial and required no formal vote.