The Cincinnati Fire Department is getting more than $1 million to buy 44 monitor defibrillators. Grant money from the Department of Homeland Security will cover most of the cost.  

The city will also contribute $123,000 from the Capital Improvement Program.

Actually, the department has acquired two of the power lift-rail cots, purchasing a second for the other emergency squad unit with its own funds. A Young Foundation grant provided $18,000 for the first cot, Fire Chief Mike Carey said. 

Department members demonstrated the new cot for Young Foundation representatives Barb Burd and Ronnie Portz on Friday, Sept. 7. Carey said the cot is mounted on a rail system installed into the floor of the squad. The rail stabilizes the cot, preventing it from shifting when the squad is driven, and meeting new standards for squad safety. 

 

A second Young Foundation grant, for $9,000, enabled the department to purchase new training equipment, including a new projector, screen and training videos, and a training mannequin which includes feedback devices, alerting the squad member using it if CPR is being performed correctly.