FYI

County EMS awarded for efforts in treating heart attack patients

Williamson County Emergency Medical Services received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award for the third year in a row, and the Mission Lifeline Award for the sixth year in a row.

Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold Plus award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for two years and treated at least eight STEMI patients for each year. To receive the Plus designation, Williamson County EMS reported on an optional measurement.

“We congratulate Williamson County EMS for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks,” Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, said in a news release.

Last year Williamson County EMS saw 813 suspected cardiac chest pain patients more than 35 years old. Of those, 78 were found to have a STEMI — a type of heart attack caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart — and successfully treated.

Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Its recognition program recognizes those pre-hospital providers for their efforts in improving STEMI systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.

“Williamson County EMS is committed to being a preeminent pre-hospital provider, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by implementing processes for improving STEMI systems of care with the goal of improving the quality of care for all STEMI patients,” said Mike Knipstein, director of Williamson County EMS. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care for STEMI patients.”

 —Staff report

Westwood junior takes 4th at science, engineering fair

Westwood High School junior Sindhuja Uppuluri earned fourth place in animal sciences at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May.

Her project involved testing milk thistle and Indian snake root on roundworms to better understand their role in a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. This is the second year that Uppuluri has placed at ISEF and the second time she has placed fourth in the animal sciences category.

The competition brought 1,842 students from 80 countries together to compete for the title of champion in various categories related to physics, environmental sciences and animal sciences.

Earlier this year, Uppuluri placed first in the senior category and third in the state category in animal sciences at the Texas State Science Fair.

—Staff report

School district awarded Energy Program of the Year

The Round Rock school district recently was awarded Energy Program of the Year by the Texas Energy Managers Association for its districtwide efforts to establish responsible practices for energy management.

The award honors an energy management program that is committed to sustainability and exemplifies what it takes to be a steward of energy management as a public entity, according to the organization.

The award criteria included assessing how well an energy program exemplifies technical understanding but manages all of the challenges of an energy management program, getting support from various stakeholders and establishing internal and external partners while implementing sound energy conservation strategies.

—Staff report