The Champaign Fire Department has been awarded $333,819 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Assistance to Firefighters Grant for mechanical chest compression devices. This regional grant has a cost match of $33,381 for a total of $367,200 for the devices and associated training.
The regional grant will provide 24 of these life-saving devices to departments in Champaign and eastern Piatt counties. Departments included are:
- Champaign
- Urbana
- Bement
- Bondville
- Gifford
- Homer
- Ivesdale
- Northern Piatt
- Rantoul
- Sadorus
- Sangamon Valley
- Savoy
“These life-saving devices will significantly improve the cardiac arrest survival rates in our community while safeguarding firefighters and EMS personnel from injury while standing up in the back of a moving ambulance doing CPR unrestrained,” said Gary Ludwig, Champaign’s Fire Chief. This grant will require Champaign City Council approval later this summer.
Media Contact: Randy Smith, Deputy Fire Marshal
Phone: (217) 403-7212 | Cell: (217) 840-9434