Tuscaloosa Fire Shows Off New Life-Saving Equipment

Tuscaloosa AL

21 December, 2020

6:05 PM

Description

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue (TFR) will be better equipped to save lives going into the new year as it implements the latest in new advanced life support technology in its vehicles. The city hopes the new equipment will provide another valuable tool to its first responders, as many firefighters are paramedics and capable of on-scene treatment. Click here to subscribe to our daily email newsletters and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices for free. You can also support local journalism by donating as little as $5 a month to become a supporting member or by downloading our free Patch mobile app. The total value of the equipment came in at roughly $1.4 million, but was covered primarily by grant funding and federal CARES Act money, before the remainder was picked up in the form of a modest contribution of $39,299.45 from the city of Tuscaloosa. In terms of expense and utility, the largest portion of the funding was spent on 20 LifePak cardiac monitors, coming in at $781,740.20 covered by CARES Act funds. These devices allow first responders to take a set of baseline vitals, giving them insight into the individual's blood pressure, pulse rate, heart rhythm and more. The data is then provided on an electronic screen and in the form of a print-out to give first responders a better idea of how to treat the person. "This places advanced life support equipment on every apparatus within the city of Tuscaloosa," said TFR Chief Randy Smith. "So every fire engine and every ladder truck now has the capability and the equipment on it, we have 25 paramedics that are spread out amongst these apparatuses, so when there is a paramedic on that truck, now they have the tools to actually perform." Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith discusses the new life support systems during a press conference Monday (Photo by Ryan Phillips, Tuscaloosa Patch)Smith said securing the funding for the devices came over the course of about a year of planning, studying and researching different approaches to securing the necessary money to make the project possible. This also includes $50,000 in advanced life support (ALS) equipment covered by a Community Development Block Grant, which will feature new Airway Bags that allow first responders to store oxygen therapy supplies in one place, along with new ALS drug kits. The other major segment of equipment that will soon go into use will be 20 LUCAS 3 automated CPR devices, which provides CPR without interruption, freeing up first-responders to perform other necessary duties to save a life. Unlike firefighters or paramedics, the machine moves at a continuous pace and keeps first responders from tiring out and having to rotate while performing CPR. .@T_Town_Fire giving a demonstration of one of its new Lucas Automated CPR devices. pic.twitter.com/TtaybT8Ab6— Ryan Phillips (@JournoRyan) December 21, 2020 The devices cost nearly $393,000, paid for primarily through a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant, in addition to a $39,000 matching contribution from the city's general fund. "It doesn't come cheap either, it comes with a price and especially with these budget-constrained days … I really appreciate the ingenuity and wherewithal of this department to go after the necessary grant funding to make it happen," Mayor Walt Maddox said. "Over a million dollars of new equipment is coming our way and very little of that is coming from our general fund." Smith said he hopes after getting TFR staff trained on the technology, the new equipment will hopefully be in use for all of the department's vehicles by the second week of January. Follow Patch here for updates or on Facebook and Twitter.