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Congressman Doyle Presents $42,000 Check to Duquesne EMS for New Safety Equipment
Pittsburgh, PA – November 28, 2006 – U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-14) today presented a check for $42,673 to the City of Duquesne and Duquesne EMS to enable the organization to purchase new protective gear for its staffers.
“This new equipment will help keep the City’s EMS workers safe – and allow them to respond more efficiently to emergencies in the communities they serve,” Congressman Doyle said.
“This grant is going to allow us to properly equip our crews with the newest personal protective equipment that will replace gear that’s 18 to 20 years old,” said Mr. Mark Nemerovsky, the executive director of Duquesne EMS. “We wouldn’t be able to provide our EMS crews with modern safety equipment without this grant, and I’m very grateful to FEMA and Congressman Doyle for making this grant possible.”
The Duquesne Emergency Medical Service department serves 25,000 people living in and around the City of Duquesne. Duquesne EMS is a combination paid/volunteer service operating 24 hours a day. Staffing includes professional paid paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) supplemented by on-call volunteers. The City of Duquesne EMS department responds to approximately 1800 calls for assistance annually and provides emergency mutual aid to several surrounding communities.
This funding, which comes from the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants program, will be used to purchase turn-out gear for the members, protective coats, pants, helmets, gloves and boots to prevent injuries while the crews work at emergency sites like accidents and fires.
“This grant is a real help to the City of Duquesne,” added Phillip Krivacek, the Mayor of Duquesne. “We appreciate Congressman Doyle’s hard work and all of the support that he has provided the City over the years.”
“In this day and age, our first responders need the most updated and technologically advanced equipment in order to be prepared to respond to any emergency,” Congressman Doyle observed. “The days are gone when first responders could safeguard their communities with money raised through fish fries and bingo games. That’s why I’ve been a strong and consistent supporter of the Assistance for Firefighters Grant program, which has provided this funding.”
The AFG Award program was established by Congress in 2001. Under this program, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness makes grants directly to local fire departments and EMS services so that they can increase their effectiveness at fighting fires, improve firefighters’ health and safety, and establish or expand fire prevention and safety programs. This year, $547 million is available for this grant program. In 2005, stand-alone EMS services, those separate from their local fire departments, became eligible to apply for the grant. However, less than 1 percent of the grant program’s overall budget is awarded to stand-alone EMS programs, showing how impressive it is that the Duquesne EMS competed successfully for this grant.
“Duquesne is the first EMS service in the Mon-Valley to receive this highly competitive grant, and I am confident that it will greatly improve the services provided to the people of the area,” Congressman Doyle observed. “It’s certainly well-deserved. I want to recognize and thank the staff and workers of the Duquesne EMS for their courage and dedication to protecting their friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens.”
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