The Kent Fire Department/Regional Fire Authority recently received a grant from the Medic One Foundation for $1,530 to purchase five electrocardiogram rhythm simulators.

The ability to quickly and accurately read heart rhythms is critical for firefighters, who are usually the first emergency responders to see a patient who is experiencing cardiac issues.

An electrocardiogram  rhythm simulator allows emergency medical service instructors to create different simulated cardiac rhythms on heart monitoring defibrillators so firefighters can recognize the different rhythms and know what care to provide for them.

Seeing different cardiac rhythms in a controlled instructional environment better prepares firefighters in dealing with a patient’s medical issue in the real world.

Although the grant came from the Medic One Foundation Board of Directors, the money was available due to the support of people in the community who know that someday, they or some they love may depend on the care that arrives with well-trained firefighters.

Medic One Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of pre-hospital emergency care. In addition to providing assistance for the purchase of special EMS equipment, the foundation dedicates its resources to fund the Medic One paramedic training and continuing education programs, on-going evaluation of patient outcomes and treatment, and innovative research related to emergency medical services.

To learn more about the Medic One Foundation, go to www.mediconefoundation.org.