On June 22, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was joined by Senate Bill 21 sponsors and several stakeholders for a bill signing at the Ohio Statehouse.
Senate Bill 21 requires the board of emergency medical, fire and transportation services to adopt guidelines for the assessment, triage and transport of stroke patients to hospitals.
The bill also requires emergency service organizations to establish stroke protocols and provide training based on the board’s guidelines.
“I am in support of the Critical Time Sensitive Diagnosis legislation that will direct the assessment, treatment and transport to the appropriate designated facility,” said Springfield Township Fire Chief Barry Cousino.
“We currently practice these same standards for patients experiencing heart attacks and who have sustained severe trauma. Lucas County has been triaging and transporting stroke patients to the appropriate facility for several years now, so this legislation is catching up with where we have already been,” he added.
Following the ceremony, Governor DeWine also signed Senate Bill 42 into law. The bill establishes the second week of November as Ohio Diabetes Awareness - Heart Connection Week to raise public awareness about the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
