McKinney Fire Department cites improved cardiac-arrest survival, honors crews and community responders

The McKinney Fire Department on Oct. 21 recognized firefighters, dispatchers and community Good Sam responders after presenting data that show rising survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

The fire department’s presentation used the Utstein measure (a standard benchmark for witnessed cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm) and cited an approximate national average survival near 30 percent. Fire Department leadership said McKinney’s Utstein survival rate was 10 percent in 2023, 37 percent in 2024 and 47 percent year to date in 2025.

The department credited improvements to faster recognition by 911 dispatchers, bystander CPR and AED use, enhanced training and clinical care by EMS crews, and outreach to boost public CPR/AED awareness. The presentation highlighted two successful resuscitations on Sept. 22, 2025: a man who collapsed at a gym and another who suffered cardiac arrest while walking outside; dispatchers provided CPR instructions to bystanders, crews delivered advanced care and both patients left the hospital a few days later.

Staff invited the council to a "Phoenix" reunion ceremony, where survivors and responders meet; the department said a ceremony is planned in February at the new fire building. Fire leadership read names of dispatchers and crew members recognized for their roles in recent resuscitations and presented departmental coins to honor their service. The presentation also noted a Good Sam responder, Justin Noel, who responded to an alert and performed CPR that helped save a life; Noel was unable to attend the work session.

The council paused to recognize the department’s work and offered congratulations; no council action or budget request was announced at the work session.