Four separate grants totaling more than $32,000 have been awarded to the Salisbury Fire Department to improve emergency response capabilities and firefighter safety. Following official approval from Mayor Randy Taylor and the Salisbury City Council, the department can now proceed with purchasing critical lifesaving equipment.
The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System provided $5,000 through their Cardiac Devices Grant program. This matching grant funded approximately half the cost of five new automated external defibrillators to replace aging equipment approaching expiration dates. The newer AED units offer improved user-friendliness and better compatibility with current software systems used for cardiac arrest case analysis, training purposes, and hospital communication.
Another significant award of $18,358 came from the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, Inc. to buy specialized impermeable gear bags. These protective bags help minimize firefighter contact with cancer-causing substances while moving equipment between fire stations and emergency scenes. Statistics show cancer causes over 72 percent of firefighter fatalities nationally, making it the top cause of death in the profession. Salisbury’s comprehensive cancer prevention efforts already include equipment cleaning and rotation, special cleaning products, on-site decontamination wipes, and yearly cancer screenings. The new protective bags add another defensive measure against carcinogen exposure.
The State of Maryland contributed $6,972 to help acquire advanced medical training equipment. These funds will purchase specialized tools to improve instruction on cardiac monitoring technology that Salisbury’s certified medical personnel use regularly. This investment will boost the quality of care delivered by the department’s paramedics and emergency medical technicians through their internal EMS Training Academy.
The department’s SWIFT program received an additional $2,000 from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. This money will assist community members with medical transportation expenses not covered by insurance plans, including follow-up care, specialist consultations, laboratory testing, and other essential medical travel needs.
“These grants reflect both the dedication of our fire department and the strong partnerships we have throughout Maryland,” Mayor Randy Taylor said. “We are grateful for every organization that invested in Salisbury’s safety. These funds will directly support our firefighters, enhance emergency medical care and allow us to better serve our residents when they need us most.”
