Carilion Doctor, Roanoke County Firefighter Receive Medical Hero Award from American Red Cross for Heart Alert

The American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter honored local heroes this morning with Celebration of Heroes community awards breakfast. Among the honorees, Paul Frantz, MD, Medical Director of Carilion's Cardiac Services, and Paramedic Chad Wheeler, of Roanoke County Fire/Rescue's Fort Lewis Fire Station.

Dr. Frantz (second from the right) developed Carilion's Heart Alert program, which makes it possible for paramedics in the field to identify a heart attack and bypass the hospital emergency room, getting heart attack victims directly into treatment, saving valuable time. Chad (far right) used the hart alert protocol last year to save Salem resident Dave Cole (left).

To learn more about Heart Alert, and Dave Cole's story, click here.