Someone Is Being Dishonest

John Smith is a liberal reporter for the LVRJ.  He also is a volunterr fireman up in Mount Charleston, so, he should know a little about EMS...apparently, he does not.
From the LVRJ: Las Vegas residents are hearing plenty about the future of emergency medical transport service in the city these days. But here’s a little news that’s guaranteed to do your heart some good.
Las Vegas Fire &Rescue once again has increased its save rate for cardiac responses to 44 percent for all heart attack patients, Chief William McDonald says. That’s a dramatic increase from approximately 30 percent last year — which was already well above the national average of just 5 percent. (Even that national average figure is deceiving, because approximately half the patients who survive suffer from a severe medical impairment.)  http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/john-l-smith/las-vegas-fire-rescue-spars-private-ambulance-company-amr
Smith and the fire chief are comparing apples to oranges.
Smith says that there are 44% of heart attack victims are saved.  Most of those had a pulse when the medics got to them.
The 5% Smith quotes the chief is for those in cardiac arrest- no pulse and the patient is not breathing.
Smith, either is duped by the fire chief or Smith is a dishonest reporter.
Whatever the case, Smith is a complete idiot.
That also may be true for the fire chief of the City of Las Vegas.