McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority wins state grant

The McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority has received a $40,000 state grant for advanced airway and personal protective equipment, state Rep.-elect Arvind Venkat, D-McCandless, announced.

“We are extremely grateful. These are capital budget items we hoped to acquire next year but didn’t know if we could,” said ambulance authority Chief Chis Dell, adding the authority most likely wouldn’t have the funds to purchase these items without this grant.

The authority will purchase video laryngoscopy equipment, which is used to intubate patients who are not breathing. The authority’s current equipment works, but needs updating, and “there’s better equipment available,” Dell said. The new equipment will allow medics to record the procedure.

The authority’s current rescue gear is outdated, and a number staff members do not have the proper personal protective equipment. The authority is need of rescue helmets, fire helmets and even protective clothing — for instance, clothing that would protect rescuers from sharp glass or metal when extracting a person from a vehicle, Dell said.

Venkat, an emergency physician who won election to the 30th District House seat in November, said he helped secure $100,000 for a total of four emergency service organizations in his community, including the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority.

“As an emergency physician and now state representative-elect, I know how critical it is to have the right tools for the job and that in an emergency, every second counts,” Venkat said Dec. 12. “I am happy to help deliver these grants for our communities. First responders directly impact the well-being of our communities, meaning that any investment that I can garner for them is a direct investment into our community at large.”

Other grants are:

$20,000 to Hampton Township to replace radios for the Hampton Township Police Department.

$20,000 to the Ohio Township Police Department — serving Ohio Township, Kilbuck, Emsworth, Ben Avon and Ben Avon Heights — for new laptop computers in police vehicles.

$20,000 to the Emsworth Volunteer Fire Company — serving Emsworth, Ben Avon and Kilbuck — for new turnout gear for firefighters.

The funds are from a grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.