Clallam County Fire District 2 will replace defibrillators and fire nozzles using a $23,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The district will replace automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), which are carried on fire engines, that are older than 15 years and fire attack nozzles older than 16 years.
As fire commissioners recently accepted the grant, they noted that the timing could not have been better for the fire district, said Chief Sam Phillips.
“The timing of this grant is especially helpful to our budget,” Phillips said.
According to the AHA, chances of surviving a heart attack are improved by 8.5 percent with the addition of early defibrillation to basic life support care, Phillips said.
“The AEDs are proven life-savers for citizens and firefighters,” Phillips said.
“Most cardio deaths and injuries are related to stress and over-exertion; for firefighters this is often on the scene of a fire or similar emergency.”
The cost of one AED is $2,600, including training.