Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death in Guam, and hundreds of people die each year before they can get rushed to a hospital. A bill that would help raise the survival rate for medical emergency patients drew strong support today at a public hearing. Fire department and emergency medical service personnel are usually the first on the scene. And Guam Memorial Hospital emergency physician Dr. Frankie Mendiola said the quicker patients can get medical attention the better their chance for survival. "Guam suffers from over 250 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually. There is an evident need for advanced care providers to respond in the pre-hospital environment," he said. Nationally-certified paramedics offer the best chance for pre-hospital survival, Mendiola said.