Habersham County Emergency Services has been awarded a $500,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to purchase ten new LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitors for local emergency medical personnel.
County officials said the grant will allow the department to replace aging cardiac monitoring equipment with new technology designed to improve patient care during medical emergencies. The upgraded monitors will be used by paramedics to assess and treat patients experiencing cardiac events and other critical medical conditions.
The project is also receiving support from Georgia Power, which is contributing $100,000 to cover the required 10% local grant match as well as grant-writing fees. The contribution enables the county to obtain the equipment without relying on local taxpayer funds to meet grant requirements.
Emergency services leaders said the new monitors will provide enhanced capabilities for patient assessment and treatment while improving communication between first responders and hospital staff. The equipment can transmit patient information directly to hospital emergency departments before arrival, allowing medical teams to prepare for treatment and potentially improve response times for critically ill patients.
“Receiving this grant, along with the support from Georgia Power, is a tremendous benefit to our department and the community we serve,” said Jeffrey Adams, fire chief and EMS director for Habersham County Emergency Services. “These new monitors will give our EMS personnel updated technology to better care for patients during medical emergencies while helping us make the most of available funding.”