By ANTHONY BOTTAN
The money, $38,000, comes from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, overseen by the Department of Homeland Security's United States Fire Administration. The Rockville Centre Fire Department is the other beneficiary, and will receive $55,530 from the program.
"The grant money is going towards purchasing 12 lead zone monitors," said John O'Reilly, chief of the Lynbrook Fire Department. "They have a heart monitor with a defibrillator, which will be used for saving lives. When we can monitor the health conditions of a person prior to arriving at the hospital, it makes our job more efficient."
The grant helps fire departments improve the effectiveness of their operations with specialized training for situations like terrorist attacks; enhancement of emergency medical services programs; health and safety initiatives; fire education and prevention programs; wellness and fitness programs, and equipment and facility upgrades.
Village Administrator John Giordano said that the village applied for the grant nine months ago. The application was sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Giordano explained, which evaluated not only the department's equipment needs, but the volume of calls it responds to each year - about 1,200 in 2008, according to Giordano.
"These grants ensure that the first responders in Nassau County will continue to have the basic resources required to do their jobs, improve safety and save lives," said U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer. "Fire departments across Long Island have been hurting from budget cuts while firefighters deal with the everyday stress of their work. These funds are truly a lifesaving investment that will provide our local first responders with essential resources and support, so they can be better prepared for emergencies.
The grants are awarded to smaller, often all-volunteer fire departments that are in need of high-tech equipment but cannot afford it, according to Josh Vlasto, spokesman for Schumer. "They fit the bill perfectly," Vlasto said, referring to the Lynbrook department.
"We can never truly repay our first responders for their heroic efforts and dedication to duty," Schumer added. "However, we can ensure that they have the training, equipment and resources they need to do their job well. This federal money will help make sure that the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us get the resources they need to keep themselves and our communities safe."
Judy Rattner contributed to this story. Comments about it? ABottan@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 246.
