Firefighters awarded grant for new equipment

WATERVLIET, N.Y. >> City firefighters have recently been able to do their day-to-day job duties easier thanks to some new equipment.

Fire Chief Robert Conlen said that the department was recently awarded over $100,000 in funds from the Assistance to Firefighter Grant. Conlen said Captain Thomas Eagan was able to secure over $100,000 to be used for essential fire and EMS equipment.

“Through the years Captain Tom Eagan has been able to secure around two million dollars in grant funding through the AFG,” explained Conlen. “This money has allowed the city to purchase equipment and utilize training that would not have been possible without the grant. This equipment and training allows the department to function in a safe and efficient manner.”

With the grant money, the department was able to acquire new vehicle extrication equipment, video laryngoscopes, a pediatric medical care system, and a power lift system for an ambulance.

“This current grant allowed us to purchase video laryngoscopes that will enhance the paramedic’s ability to secure the airways of critical patients,” said Conlen. “We have also purchased a Handtevy pediatric emergency standards kit that will help with care and treatment of pediatric patients. A Stryker powerload system was purchased and installed on one of the departments ambulances. This system will lift and load a stretcher with a patient on it into the ambulance. This will cut down on lifting injuries to firefighters.”

The new equipment will allow the department to provide a very high level of care to patients in a much safer manner for the members. For example, the department’s previous vehicle extrication equipment was becoming ineffective to use on newer vehicles.

“Our old set wasn’t capable of cutting into the new stronger structural members of modern vehicles,” said Conlen.

The fire department secured this grant a while ago, but had extra funds left over after purchasing all that new equipment, so the department recently submitted a plan to utilize the extra funds for other equipment.

Conlen said there was a surplus of approximately $25,000. In order to utilize the left over money, Eagan had to write a plan amendment that was submitted to and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The surplus will be used for a new power-lift stretcher in one of the department’s ambu-

lances and new fire hose.

“The power-lift system in the ambulance greatly reduces the risk of injuries to the firefighter/ EMT by minimizing the

weight that they will be required to lift or carry,” said Conlen. “Now, with having two stretchers, the life of each stretcher will be increased because of our capability to interchange them on a monthly basis. We will also be replacing several lengths of fire hose that have been

deemed unfit for duty due to damage or failed pressure testing.”

Conlen said that all of this new equipment will not only have an immediate impact on the firefighter’s jobs, but that it will also benefit the community.

“These new items will

have an immediate impact on the members responding on calls and the community we service,” said Conlen. “From a fiscal standpoint the grant has allowed the department to keep up with the ever changing equipment and technology needs of emergency services without

placing a large burden on the city and community.”

Mayor Mike Manning agreed with Conlen that receiving these kinds of grant funds really helps the city to have the opportunity to purchase this kind of equipment without using funds from the city’s

annual budget.

“Like a lot of the grants that we do here, it’s a team effort,” said Manning. “These are things that would be difficult to budget for without grants. In this case, the grant will provide better service and provide that service safer for the fire department.”