King County is one of the best places in the world to have a heart attack. While survival rates for heart attacks in other parts of the U.S. are around 10 percent, chances of surviving in King County are at 52 percent.

King County’s EMS system responded to 164,690 calls in 2011 with an average medic unit response time of 7.5 minutes.

“Fast response during traumatic events like a heart attack is critical, and these new findings once again affirm the skill of our dispatchers who take 911 calls and the professionals who provide rapid, high-quality emergency care and transport,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine, who thanked the voters of King County for their long history of support for this service.

The King County EMS/Medic One system relies on a partnership of thousands of workers with fire departments, paramedic agencies, dispatch centers, and hospitals.

“Our EMS/Medic One system’s success is built on a constant drive to improve health outcomes for King County residents,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health. “We continue to raise the bar for patient survival from cardiac arrest, which is one of the most critical measures of success.”