CRANBERRY TWP — The Cranberry Emergency Medical Service recently received a performance award that recognized the group’s excellence in treating cardiac patients.

Director Jeff Kelly said the Cranberry EMS received the Mission Lifeline EMS Performance Achievement Award from the American Heart Association.

The award recognizes the timeliness and quality of service provided by Cranberry EMS to cardiac patients, and is based on criteria that include the identification of heart attack symptoms and the length of time before the patients arrives at the hospital.

Every second matters when someone is having a cardiac event, Kelly said, which means it’s nice to be recognized for Cranberry EMS’ efficiency.

“It shows the community our commitment to providing excellent cardiac care.”

Cranberry EMS was one of 447 agencies in the country to receive this recognition.

Kelly added that his organization received a bronze award, which doesn’t mean third place but does reflect the volume of calls received by Cranberry EMS.

“It shows we have a pretty healthy community,” Kelly said. “It’s just one more thing we can do to prove to the residents we serve that we’re taking their health into significant consideration.”

Kelly said this is the third year Cranberry EMS has applied for the award but the first year it’s received it after coming close the previous two years.