Fire department to buy defibrillators with grant

Money will be used to purchase lifesaving devices and navigation units

Firefighters and rescue workers use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on victims who have suffered sudden cardiac arrest. AED technology analyzes the heart’s rhythms and prompts the user to deliver a defibrillation shock if it determines one is needed.

‘‘Every year, half a million people die from sudden cardiac arrest,” said Paul Lilly, president and deputy chief of Sandy Spring. ‘‘For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, the victim’s chance of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent. Our new AEDs, combined with the [navigation] units, will make our community safer.”

Lilly said that chiefs or other department sport utility vehicles frequently arrive on the scene first, having limited equipment with them.

‘‘They may be there five minutes doing CPR before the other units arrive,” he said. ‘‘Having more AEDs may make a difference, and save more lives.”

Burtonsville fire department officials agree.

‘‘Our department’s current AEDs are 10 years old and are very difficult to maintain and service,” said Craig Baker, chief of the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department. ‘‘The new units, which are easier to use, will allow our department’s personnel to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.”

Global Positioning System navigation units help first responders quickly find the location of an emergency incident and improve response time.

‘‘Some of our vehicles, such as our tanker, are manned by a single person,” Lilly said. ‘‘We don’t want them trying to read a map or getting into an accident on the way to an incident.”

Hilb Rogal & Hobbs and Fireman’s Fund executives, together with local officials, presented the grant packages to each department on April 12.

‘‘With there being a lack of funding for fire departments across the country, it’s essential that they receive the proper support from the community,” John Wilson, executive vice president of the Montgomery County-based Hilb Rogal & Hobbs of Metropolitan Washington, said. ‘‘We are proud to support two local volunteer departments and know that the tools purchased with the grant funds will truly benefit the community.”

The grant was made through the Fireman’s Fund Heritage program, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company’s social mission to support firefighters for safer communities.

‘‘Funding challenges across the country have left many fire departments, like mine, with limited resources, so when informed that [Hilb Rogal & Hobbs] would be awarding our fire department with a grant of $7,197, I was thrilled,” Lilly said.

Lilly said that to his knowledge, it is the first grant Sandy Spring has received.

‘‘Every penny helps,” he said. ‘‘This year we are buying two new rescue engines to replace the old ones we have. We also need help with building a new Station 40, which, having been built in the early 1970s, is too small for the needs of our current population, call load and apparatus size requirements. We are applying for a number of grants this year, with the hope of offsetting some of the burden from our community.”