61.0°,
Overcast Long Beach Fire Department receives federal grant for life-saving tools
Officials say funds will be used for purchasing cardiac devices
The Long Beach Fire Department last week received $54,000 in federal funding to purchase new emergency care equipment for their ambulances.
The LBFD applied for funds last year and the money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, according to the offices of U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Peter King.
City Council President Fran Adelson said that given the difficult financial times in Long Beach, the grant is a tremendous help for the city. Adelson said that the Fire Department will use the funds to purchase three new Lifepak 15s, devices that include heart monitors and defibrillators for three-advanced life support ambulances, manned by both career and volunteer firefighters.
“The grant enables us to obtain new essential life-saving equipment without draining the city’s finances,” Adelson said.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, established by FEMA within the Department of Homeland Security, is part of an effort to increase the nation’s emergency response preparation. The program provides federal funding to first responder organizations for the acquisition of personal protective equipment, firefighting vehicles, emergency response equipment and emergency response trainings, according to a joint statement released on Feb.16 by King, Schumer and Gillibrand.
“I understand how critical this funding is for our firefighters,” King, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, said in a statement. “These funds will ensure that the Long Beach Fire Department has the necessary equipment to keep them safe and protect Long Beach.”
Senator Schumer echoed similar sentiments, calling the investment a big help for Long Beach. “By allowing the department to purchase new, life-saving equipment, these funds will guarantee that our local first responders have the equipment they need to save lives,” he said.
According to the joint statement, the Long Beach Fire Department provides services for nearly 43,000 people, and firefighters respond to almost 5,000 calls annually.
