CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Division of EMS is taking another major step forward in patient care.

As of this month, officials say all of the city's 25 frontline ambulances are equipped with portable ventilators.

"Just a game-changer," said Dave Jockers, the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees' first vice president.

According to Cleveland EMS, the ventilators improve outcomes and survivability of patients being treated in the pre-hospital setting. The equipment helps patients in respiratory distress like those with COPD or asthma, as well as patients who are in cardiac arrest.

"We're bringing evidence-based medicine right to where the patients first had their injury or illness,” said EMS education specialist Sgt. Sharon Kozel. "Our initial care of those few seconds and minutes mak

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