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Allen firefighters will soon be using upgraded equipment.
Allen City Council approved three purchases for a total of $1.22 million in new equipment for the Allen Fire Department at a Sept. 22 meeting.
The gist
The purchases were needed to replace aging equipment and support training for the department, Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said. The department is receiving:
Eight chest compression devices
14 defibrillators
Fire training simulation equipment
The specifics
The eight Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist Systems, or LUCAS, devices will be purchased for $164,326, per city documents. The funds are included in the department’s annual operating budget.
These devices provide automated chest compressions during CPR, which allows paramedics to perform other critical tasks while compressions continue, Boyd said. The additional LUCAS devices will replace aging equipment.
The 14 defibrillators and monitors will cost $903,472 and are included in the department’s annual operating budget, per city documents. The defibrillators help paramedics assess patients, monitor heart rhythms and deliver treatment during cardiac emergencies, Boyd said.
The fire training simulation software will cost $160,000 and will be funded through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, city documents state. This technology will allow fire department staff to practice responding to emergency situations and identify areas for improvement before emergencies, Boyd said.
Quote of note
“Our residents depend on us to have reliable equipment and to make sound decisions under pressure,” Boyd said in an emailed statement. “These purchases support both. They replace equipment our paramedics use to care for patients and give our personnel opportunities to practice managing emergencies before lives are at stake.”
