Detroit Fire Department recognized for nation-leading improvement in cardiac arrest survival; hosts first-ever SaveMIHeart Conference in the City

2025
  • SaveMIHeart Conference a huge success, with more than 100 attendees
  • DFD Safety Series Wednesday, June 11 to teach Hands-Only CPR

 

At the close of the 10th annual SaveMIHeart Conference — held for the first time in the City of Detroit — the Detroit Fire Department (DFD), in collaboration with the Detroit Medical Center Hospitals, proudly announced national recognition for dramatic improvements in cardiac arrest survival outcomes. The announcement coincides with new data from the 2024 CARES (Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival) Annual Report, which positions Detroit as one of the most improved cities in the nation when it comes to saving lives from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

The conference, which brought together EMS providers, physicians, community health advocates and emergency response leaders from across Michigan, underscored Detroit’s emergence as a leader in emergency care and resuscitation science.

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Dr. Peter Antevy gives one of two keynote addresses to a packed room of medical professionals at the 10th Annual Save MI Heart Conference, held in Detroit.

 

“The fact that we’re hosting this event a decade after it started — and at a moment when Detroit is being recognized for turning the tide on cardiac arrest survival — is both symbolic and inspiring,” Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms said. “We’re no longer just part of the conversation. We’re helping lead it.”

Detroit’s transformation is anchored in data. The CARES registry tracks critical outcomes in cardiac arrest cases, and one of its most meaningful benchmarks is the Utstein Survival Record: a standard measurement of how often communities save people whose cardiac arrest was witnessed by a bystander and involved a shockable rhythm.

  • In 2015, Detroit’s Utstein survival rate was just 8.2%.
  • In 2024, that number tripled to 25.0%.
  • Among patients who received bystander CPR or AED use, survival reached an outstanding 39.5%.

“CARES data has been our roadmap. It gave us the evidence to demand more, and the accountability to deliver results,” Detroit EMS Medical Director Dr. Robert Dunne said. “Detroit went from the bottom of the chart to a city now studied for best practices. This is the power of focused, measurable change.”

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivors shared their stories with attendees to underscore the importance of even one life saved through proper pre-hospital care.

 

Additional highlights from Detroit’s 2024 cardiac arrest response data include:

  • Overall survival rate from non-traumatic OHCA: 8.1%
  • Survival from bystander-witnessed arrests: 12.5%
  • Bystander CPR performance grew from 13% in 2015 to 36% in 2024.

Detroit’s improvement reflects years of strategic investment in training, equipment and public outreach. These efforts include training firefighters as medical first responders, deploying AEDs citywide, reopening Detroit’s paramedic training program and strengthening partnerships with hospitals, dispatch centers and community organizations.

The city’s progress was formally recognized with the HEARTSafe Community designation in 2024, making Detroit the largest municipality in the country to earn this honor. This distinction reflects both professional excellence and a deep commitment to community-wide preparedness.

“This isn’t just about what the Fire Department can do, it’s about what our entire city can do together,” Simms said. “Every second counts in cardiac arrest, and we’re empowering Detroiters to make a difference before we even arrive.”

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Dr. Brenda Brown survived a Sudden Cardiac Arrest in 2016, thanks to help from bystanders. Today, she runs a nonprofit to train people in CPR and AED use.

 

Upcoming Opportunity: Get Involved and Stay Safe

  • June 11 at 6 p.m.: Join the next DFD Safety Series session, “What It Means to Be HEARTSafe in Detroit,” hosted by Captain Jeffrey Forbes of the EMS Training Division. Learn how you can get involved, recognize cardiac arrest, perform CPR and become part of the lifesaving movement in your own neighborhood.

For more information about the CARES registry, upcoming training events, or to learn how to become CPR certified, visit mycares.net or detroitmi.gov.