East Haven Firefighters Get Tools To Help Save Lives Via FEMA Grants

EAST HAVEN, CT —Among the various jobs and responsibilities — nearly all about protecting and saving lives — of the East Haven Fire Department Chief Matt Marcarelli is to apply for grants for equipment sorely needed by firefighters and medics. He's often very successful and grants are not easy to apply for as the process is often laborious. The grant applications on behalf of the EHFD are routinely supported by Mayor Joseph A. Carfora and his administration.

So when the East Haven Firefighters Local 1205 shouts out Marcarelli for another vital grant funding win, we share it!

"We would like to thank Chief Marcarelli and Mayor Carfora for their continued support in making sure that the East Haven Fire Department has the support and tools they need to keep the Town of East Haven safe,"

firefighters wrote on Instagram.

Carfora has said he's "encouraged Chief Marcarelli to aggressively pursue grant funds whenever possible to reduce the financial obligation on the town, who would normally fund these purchases."

"Marcarelli really has a great track record, bringing in what is closing in on the $2 million dollar mark. I commend the Chief for his work on this highly competitive grant and I am pleased to support his efforts," Carfora said.

Since 2017 the department has been awarded over $1.62 million through FEMA grant programs. The federal funding was awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.

"This equipment will save lives in East Haven and we are fortunate to have a great team of professionals who do great work," Carfora said. "We are also thankful for U.S. Senator Murphy, Representative DeLauro and State Representative Joe Zullo to continuing to support the Assistance to firefighters grant program, this is another example of our cooperative relationship benefits East Haven."

The department just received "new equipment is an essential part of ensuring the residents and visitors receive the highest quality of care available," firefighters wrote. "It's part of a long list of much-needed upgrades this department has seen over the last couple of years."

First, the Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS) CPR devices. They provide mechanical chest compressions to patients in cardiac arrest. It is mostly used in emergency medicine as an alternative to manual CPR because it provides consistent compressions at a fixed rate through difficult transport conditions and eliminates the physical strain on the person performing CPR.

Around $122K in federal assistance went directly for the acquisition of CPR compression devices. S

“The department is really excited about this award," Marcarelli said. "CPR Compression devices have proven efficacy, one study indicates that there was as much as a 164 percent of return of a heartbeat with implementation of these devices, they’ve also shown a 21 percent increased blood flow to the brain. And, 99 percent of cardiac arrest survivors had an improved neurological outcome when a compression device was used. The devices also free up the hands of a rescuer who may be needed to provide airway management or administer medications to the patient who is in cardiac arrest. In a department that has seen an unprecedented increase in calls for service, our people can be spread thin, and it’s sometimes all hands on deck. During 2022 the EHFD responded to 7417 calls including 70 Cardiac arrests where BLS and ALS were administered, 285 cardiac arrests in the past 3 years. These devices will help until there are more personnel. Now every fire unit career and volunteer will have a mechanical CPR compression device to deploy at a cardiac arrest. This is lifesaving technology."

The fire department also received are the McGRATH video laryngoscopes. This device is used for a person who collapses due to a heart attack, or other emergency incident where they may need to have a breathing tube fitted before they arrive at the hospital. A video laryngoscope is a camera that is used to see inside a person’s throat, or larynx. The VL device can be used by Paramedics and First Responders to help fit a breathing tube. The device uses a camera and a monitor. The camera tube is inserted through the nose or mouth and the images are displayed on the monitor. These images are then used to help fit the breathing tube.