Grant for Pa. Agency First Step in Equipment Purchase
Feb. 03--Western Alliance Emergency Services in Troy recently received a $7,444.80 grant, but the funding is just a drop in the bucket compared to the amount that it must raise for a mandated equipment purchase.
In a news release, state Rep. Matt Baker announced that Western Alliance was among several fire and EMS companies within the 68th Legislative District receiving grant awards by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
According to Western Alliance CEO Tom Carman, the $7,444.80 amount will be used by Western Alliance to help purchase four new 12-lead cardiac monitors, which he said is a life-saving piece of equipment used by Western Alliance.
The new cardiac monitors are needed because the company that manufactures and services Western Alliance's current ones has stated that it won't service them anymore, after this year.
Carman said this amounts to an "unfunded mandate" from the manufacturer, "leaving us with 100 percent of the burden of trying to find funds to pay for monitors."
And the price for the new monitors is steep.
Carman said the total cost for the four new monitors is $120,000.
He said the $7,444.80 grant is "well appreciated," and Western Alliance will be looking for other ways to raise the rest of the money.
Carman said fund drives are being considered to raise the money.
According to its website, Western Alliance Emergency Services is a licensed 501 C3 non-profit organization consisting of career paramedics, career and volunteer EMTs, first responders and drivers, and is funded by third party billing, memorial donations, grants and service subscriptions.
Western Alliance EMS does not receive any local tax money. For this reason, Carman noted that donations are especially important.
Carman explained the importance of the monitors and their many uses.
When connected to a patient's chest, for example, they reveal the electrical activity of the patient's heart, and can tell the emergency responders if the patient has a normal sinus rhythm or some type of arrhythmia, he said.
Also, Carman noted that the monitors can be used for manual defibrillation and manual pacing, as well as monitoring blood pressure and the percentile of oxygen in the blood.
He said the monitors allow paramedics to look at the heart from different perspectives to get a "full electrical interpretation of the heart." For example, he noted that they can show ST elevation in the presence of a myocardial infarction. He said the monitors can be used for endtidal CO monitoring.
Other fire and EMS companies in the 68th District receiving grant funding were:
- Innes Hose Company: $12,068.60.
- Oscouluwa Engine and Hose Company Inc.: $12,068.60.
- Smithfield Township Volunteer Fire Department: $12,345.61.
- South Creek Volunteer Fire Company Inc.: $11,791.59.
- Tri Township Ambulance Association: $7,444.80.
Canton Volunteer Fire Department (Innes Hose Company) Assistant Chief Ray Miller said the money would probably be used for debt reduction on truck payments.
He was grateful that the fire department received the funding.
"It's always appreciated," he said.
Roy Vargson, fire chief of the Troy Volunteer Fire Department, also known as the Oscouluwa Engine and Hose Company Inc., said the grant would be use for debt reduction on the new fire truck.
"It's greatly appreciated," he said.
Funding from the Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program can be used for construction or renovation of a company's station, the purchase or repair of equipment, training or debt reduction, the news release noted.
"Our fire and EMS companies work tirelessly to protect our lives, homes and property, and it takes a great deal of training and often expensive equipment to deliver such services," Baker said in the news release. "These grants will help them afford to continue to provide life-saving services to the citizens of the 68th District."
Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; email: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.
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