New equipment may be one of the most vital life-saving pieces
on County ambulances
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service was awarded a
$1,192,800 Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant to replace dated cardiac
defibrillators with the most advanced generation of cardiac
monitor/defibrillator equipment on the market. The County will provide a
matching amount of $298,200 towards the purchase of the equipment.
Cardiac monitors/defibrillators are indispensable and vital to first
responders. The equipment is utilized in conjunction with State and County
protocols to deliver advanced cardiac support and to obtain electrocardiograph
assessments in order to determine the most appropriate course of treatment. The
equipment may be used as an initial diagnostic tool or as a source of
continuous information to evaluate a patient’s response to treatment. It will
allow first responders to quickly diagnose a patient in the field, provide
quick access to clinical information and faster treatment while simultaneously
transmitting critical patient information directly to the hospital’s emergency
department prior to and during patient transport. The equipment (known as
Lifepak 15s) also has additional life-saving technology that features
integrated carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring that measures vital blood gases and
CO levels in the blood resulting in quicker diagnosis and patient
stabilization.
Early defibrillation is a critical component in treating cardiac patients and
the Cardiac Monitors/Defibrillators are essential in cardiac arrest emergencies
and other potentially lethal cardiac rhythms which require an electrical
intervention. With an EMS call
volume of over 80,000 incidents each year, protecting and saving lives is
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s core mission and the ability to upgrade our
inventory of cardiac monitor defibrillators through the grant award will be
instrumental in continuing to offer the best and most advanced emergency
medical care to the residents of Montgomery County and its visitors.
The equipment (known as Lifepak 15s) has capabilities that are superior to the
current model and will allow first responders to detect and treat cardiac
events, monitor heart rhythms, blood pressure and oxygen saturation, diagnose
heart attacks, shock hearts back into normal rhythms, provides external pacing
and defibrillation for difficult-to-defibrillate patients. The units also have
additional life-saving technology integrated that features a carbon monoxide
(CO) monitoring feature that measures vital blood gases and CO levels in the
blood which facilitates a quicker diagnosis and patient stabilization.
“I know how important this funding is to Maryland
communities – often it’s the difference between life and death. First responders protect our homes and
communities, and the federal government has a responsibility to protect them by
providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs safer and smarter,” said
Senator Barbara Mikulski. “Every day when our first responders report for duty,
they don’t know what they will face. That’s why I fight every year for the
equipment, training and staffing our protectors and communities deserve.”
“When a natural disaster occurs or we are faced with a terrorist attack, it
is our first responders who provide the first line of defense for our
citizens,” said Senator Ben Cardin. “This federal funding is an important
investment in keeping Maryland
families and businesses safe if, and when, a disaster strikes. It ensures that
our first responders have the resources they need to protect us and the
equipment and training they need to do their jobs.”
“I am pleased that this grant will enable us to do more to support the critical
missions of our firefighters in Montgomery
County by providing them
with funding for 40 new cardiac monitors/defibrillators,” said Congressman
Chris Van Hollen. “This new equipment will help ensure that our community’s
emergency responders have the full array of tools that they need to do their
jobs and keep our fellow citizens safe.”
The units cost over $37,000 each and, with daily opportunities to put the new
equipment with its expanded capabilities and technology to work, the average cost
per use is less than $8.00 over the course of the equipment’s life span. By
upgrading the department’s cardiac monitors, first responders will have a very
dynamic and advanced tool to provide the assessment and treatment of the most
critically ill and injured patients which, ultimately, will translate into lives
saved.
“I want to thank
Senators Mikulski and Cardin and Congressman Van Hollen for their efforts to
provide this grant to Montgomery
County for more advanced
cardiac defibrillators,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett. “This new equipment will help our first
responders save even more lives, and for that we are grateful.”
“Over half of the
department’s cardiac defibrillators have been in use since 2002 and exceed the
recommended replacement schedule. These new monitors are state-of-the-art and
will allow us to provide the highest level of service and to achieve our most
important job - - saving lives,” said Fire Chief Richard Bowers. “Every day,
our first responders put their lives on the line to protect our residents and
it’s crucial that they are equipped to handle any emergency. This is a great
investment to better serve the residents of Montgomery County and those in the
region.”
