Topsfield Fire Department
Interim Chief Richard Harris
27 High St.
Topsfield, MA 01983

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 26, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Topsfield Fire Captain Jen Collins-Brown Receives EMS Leadership Award

TOPSFIELD — Interim Fire Chief Richard Harris is pleased to announce that Capt. Jen Collins-Brown received the 2016 Coverdell EMS Collaborative Leadership Award for her dedication to stroke care.

Left to right: Dr. Lee Schwamm, Stroke Systems Consultant for the Coverdell Program, Capt. Jen CollinS-Brown and Anita Christie, Director of the Office of Clinical Preventive Services at DPH. (Courtesy Photo)

The award was given by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program, which provides funding and support to state health departments to track, measure and improve the quality of stroke care.

The Coverdell Award recognizes EMTs who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and a strong commitment to advocating for stroke patients during the previous calendar year. Capt. Collins-Brown went above and beyond the call of duty, and was committed to not only providing exceptional care, but has shared her expertise with Coverdell EMS Collaborative colleagues in order to expand her efforts to improve stroke care.

“We’re proud of Capt. Collins-Brown for her commitment to excellent care for stroke patients,” Chief Harris said. “She is a vital part of our department and truly deserving of the award for all her efforts within the Topsfield community.”

Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of adult disability. Immediate assessment and treatment is critical to help improve outcomes.

Knowing the key signs and symptoms of a stroke and calling 911 immediately can save a life. The F.A.S.T. acronym is an easy way to remember:

Face: Does the face look uneven? Ask the person to smile.

Arm: Does one arm drift down? Ask the person to raise both arms.

Speech: Does the speech sound strange? Ask the person to repeat a phrase.

Time: If you observe these symptoms, call 911.

For more information on the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program, or about F.A.S.T. and the DPH stroke awareness campaign, click here.

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