EMS Equipment

[iavolff]

Was wondering if any fire/ems departments have had success getting EMS equipment. If so, what were you able to obtain, and would appreciate other thoughts on requesting a 12 lead cardiac monitor. Thanks to all.

[ktb9780]

Was wondering if any fire/ems departments have had success getting EMS equipment. If so, what were you able to obtain, and would appreciate other thoughts on requesting a 12 lead cardiac monitor. Thanks to all.

Wll of course they have had success in getting EMS equipment, that was the whole purpose of putting them in AFG in the first place. 12 lead cardiac montors, new stretchers, AEDs, extrication PPE, training,new radios etc. have all been items I have successfuly obtained for my EMS clients across the US.Just take a look at the AFG awards list and look at the EMS and standalone resuce services that have been funded in the last two years.

[iavolff]

Based on review of the awards given to date, it appears that the award amounts pale in comparison to firefighting awards. Is this due to fewer applications for EMS, or is it tougher to get funds for EMS? Again, everyone's thoughts are appreciated.

[ktb9780]

Based on review of the awards given to date, it appears that the award amounts pale in comparison to firefighting awards. Is this due to fewer applications for EMS, or is it tougher to get funds for EMS? Again, everyone's thoughts are appreciated.

Only 2% of the total funds in AFG can go to standalone EMS or rescue departments so that is why you see a smaller number of awards. If you would like to see more about what this program is like from last year, go here and look at this document. It should give you all the infromation that you need. Pay special attention to the areas that speak to standalone rescue and EMS operations:

http://www.chiefsupply.com/grants/2006AFGPGuidelinesDocumentAnnotated.pdf

[iavolff]

According to this guidance, it is my understanding that we would be able to write our grant for medical equipment alongside fire equipment since our department has both fire and ALS operations.

[Fighting41NY]

FIRE + EMS equipment same APP

Our pending award includes both Structural PPE and EMS Bloodborne pathogen PPE specific for EMS calls in the same application. We also run ALS & fire calls and the EMS call volume outnumbers fire at least 3:1. We have 0% EMS PPE currently other then street clothes. Not only do we need it, I thought this would help our overall scoring for the structural PPE, so I included both. As I learned from BC79er on Saturday, laundry lists and mixing high & low prioirty items in the same app may hurt your overall success. I think these PPE items would both be high priority though.

BC79er - Do you think having high call volume numbers due to EMS helps in the scoring, I.E. is it total call # based or specific call type based (structural, brush, etc) or both?

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

Both, if that helps confuse you any.

Total call volume goes to tell the story of risk, so if you run 1st response EMS and that call volume is high, then if your fire/rescue related calls are low it's more of a 'you're lucky' situation. EMS cals are averaging 85% of total calls for an area across the country, regardless of rural/suburban/urban, so if yours are a higher % then that says it's only a matter of time before fires come.

But if your fire-related call volume is really low, and so is EMS, then that's when it's risky to ask for more than one project. PPE for both Fire & EMS is not a laundry list since it is one project to outfit all responders with PPE appropriate to their mission.