Stratford EMS receives federal fire safety grant
By Stratford Star on June 9, 2013 in News, Police & Fire
Connecticut’s U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty recently announced the award of two Fire Prevention and Safety Grants to assist Stratford, Brookfield and New Milford fire fighters in safely responding to emergencies.
Each of the three companies will receive a new tracking system that will enable incident commanders to view vital personal safety information during volatile and dangerous situations. The system will provide a continuous communication link between firefighters and the command station, providing real time information that could be used to immediately locate a firefighter in distress. Additionally, the 89 self-contained breathing apparatuses will replace older equipment, providing firefighters with modern, life-saving equipment.
Stratford received $186,000 to purchase new paramedic monitors for its Emergency Medical Service first responders. The new monitors will replace out of date equipment and will be equipped with defibrillating machines that can monitor pulse, oxygen levels, blood pressure and detailed heart rate.
The grant program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.
“These grants will ensure that our first responders in Brookfield, New Milford and Stratford have access to state of the art equipment that will help not only protect their lives in the event of an emergency, but to help them better protect the lives of the residents they so selflessly serve every day. Our first responders deserve the best life-saving technology available, and I will continue to advocate for federal funding to make sure that is a reality for all of our Connecticut departments,” Blumenthal said.
“Stratford Emergency Medical Service not only provides exemplary service to the community, but is an innovator in the field of emergency medical response. These funds will allow them to continue to provide that high level of aid by ensuring that their emergency medical technicians have the most advanced technology and equipment available to meet the myriad of incidents to which they respond,” said DeLauro.
“This grant to Stratford EMS will be used to enhance services, by way of providing funding to upgrade paramedic monitor systems used in transporting patients. I’d like to thank all of those in both local and federal government who played a hand in writing the grant request, and in seeing it was awarded to Stratford,” said Stratford Mayor John A. Harkins.
