Tester Secures $71,000 for East Missoula Rural Fire Department

Funds will be used to purchase two LifePak 15 Heart Monitors

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $71,790 for the East Missoula Rural Fire Department to purchase two LifePak 15 Heart Monitor Defibrillators for each of the Department’s two lead engines.

“During a global pandemic, it’s critical that we get our firefighters and first responders the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Tester. “I’m proud to have secured the funding for these heart monitors, which will allow Missoula firefighters to save lives by providing better on-site care to folks during a medical emergency.”

LifePak 15 Heart Monitors allow first responders to transmit an EKG report on a person with chest pains directly to a hospital in order to get on-the-spot advice on treatment in the field. It also contains a built-in metronome to keep the responder in correct rhythm for administering CPR compressions.

Tester secured the funds through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) competitive Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. As the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Tester led the charge to increase funding for this critical program.

The AFG program helps local fire departments meet firefighting and emergency medical response needs by helping departments purchase critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel.

Tester recently secured $100 million in AFG funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help fire departments purchase personal protective equipment and other supplies necessary to address COVID-19.