Calif. firefighter grant provides new defibrillator, CPR machine

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen
The Vallejo Times Herald

AMERICAN CANYON, Calif. — Starting in February, the chances of surviving a medical emergency in this city may improve because of new equipment made possible by a federal grant, Fire District Chief Glen Weeks said.

The annual federal Assistance to Firefighters for Emergency Medical Service Equipment grant process netted the district $80,000 this year for two state-of-the-art pieces of rescue equipment, Weeks said last week. The award was announced about a year ago, and it has taken this long to navigate the process to actually get the machines, he said.

"We bought an EKG monitor/defibrillator and an automatic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation machine," he said. "The CPR machine does chest compressions better and more consistently (than a person can) in heart attack situations."

The machines have the capacity to perform Advanced Life Support functions, positioning the district to be able to offer such services if it gains that status in the future, Weeks said.

"We're a Basic Life Support provider now, and we'll use the machines in that capacity (unless that changes)," he said.

Basic Life Support agencies are allowed to stabilize patients, start CPR, use an automatic defibrillator and other such functions, but can't do advanced airway procedures, start an IV or introduce medications, Weeks said.

"Our (ambulance) provider is our Advanced Life Support provider now, but we usually get to the scene first," he said.

Becoming an Advance Live Support provider would reduce the time it takes to perform some life-saving procedures, Weeks said.

City officials are discussing the feasibility of upgrading the district's status, Weeks said.

"The agency must have the training, the personnel and be given the authority by the EMS agency," he said. "The governing body needs to agree and it must be financially feasible. This new equipment puts us one step closer."

The Swedish-made CPR device has not yet arrived and staff must be trained before pressing the new equipment into service, he sad.

"We'll undergo training through January, and the machines will probably be in service in February," Weeks said. "The goal is to provide the best level of service and care we can, but, obviously, we have to do it within our means."

The new CPR machine should start making an impact immediately, he said.

"When it comes online, this will mean that the Fire District has better equipment that will enhance survival chances in medical emergencies," he said. "Our goal is to enhance survivability."

Mayor Leon Garcia, a nurse instructor, said the equipment is good news for city residents.

"It's the latest advancement in the technology available and will provide first responders better assessment tools," Garcia said. "And it gives the Fire District the capacity for a higher level of service down the line."

Winning the grant meant proving a need for the equipment, Weeks said. The last time the district won such a grant was about five years ago.

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