The Northville Township Fire Department has achieved a significant milestone in emergency medical care excellence, receiving the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver Achievement Award. This national recognition highlights the department’s exceptional commitment to providing superior emergency medical services for residents experiencing severe cardiac emergencies, including heart attacks and strokes. In a remarkable demonstration of their capabilities, the department achieved Silver status on their very first application to the program.
“I am happy to report the only reason we did not achieve the Gold Achievement Award is because it is not awarded your first year in the program,” explained Chief Brent Siegel. “We met the award criteria for Gold, but this is not awarded until year two.” The Mission: Lifeline initiative focuses on implementing best practices in coordination between hospitals, EMS agencies, and first responders to ensure patients receive rapid and appropriate care during life-threatening cardiac events.
The Northville Township Fire Department has established itself as a leader in cardiac care, with survival rates that significantly outpace national averages. For patients experiencing ventricular fibrillation (VFIB) cardiac arrests in the township, the survival rate is nearly three times the national average. This exceptional performance isn’t just statistical—it represents real lives saved. In 2024 alone, the department successfully resuscitated five cardiac arrest victims who were later discharged from the hospital with good neurological function.
These impressive outcomes stem from the department’s commitment to implementing global best practices, including high-performance CPR techniques. The department’s emergency response capabilities are equally impressive, having handled 2,859 medical emergencies in 2024, with paramedics assessing 2,871 patients and transporting 1,640 to hospitals. Every member of the fire department brings dual expertise to emergency situations, creating a qualified response team ready to tackle any medical crisis.
The department’s exceptional level of care is made possible by their specialized qualifications and equipment. Every firefighter in the Northville Township Fire Department is also a certified paramedic, creating a knowledgeable workforce ready to handle medical emergencies of all types. Additionally, every frontline vehicle is licensed and equipped to provide Advanced Life Support, representing the highest level of pre-hospital medical care available. This includes critical interventions such as cardiac monitoring, intubation, and the administration of IV medications.
Both township leadership and the fire department have expressed pride in this achievement. “Our residents are in excellent hands and our Fire Department continues to be the standard in top-notch care,” said Township Manager Glenn Caldwell. “Thank you to all the first responders who work diligently daily for such terrific outcomes.” Chief Siegel added, “This award highlights the incredible work of our EMS personnel and their relentless pursuit of excellence. We are honored to be recognized and remain committed to providing the highest level of prehospital care.” The department’s 39 team members provide round-the-clock service, with the recent addition of Fire Station No. 2 enabling them to reach 97% of the Township in less than 6 minutes.
