Voice Amplification Devices Granted To Highland Park Fire Department

HIGHLAND PARK, IL – The City of Highland Park has received a grant from ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to replace and buy dozens of voice amplification units for firefighters as part of the Powering Safe Communities program, which awarded grants of up to $10,000 to more than two dozen municipalities in Illinois. It's the third year of the program, and this year it has increased the total amount of money distributed as well as the number of projects supported.

Highland Park's $8,436 grant will help fund the purchase of 45 of the amplification units, which will attach to respirators used by firefighters during atmospherically hazardous emergency responses. The new units will replace existing voice amplification units which are failing, and they will allow the firefighters to communicate with one another, especially in emergency conditions with loud ambient noise.

"Keeping our communities safe is ComEd's number one priority, and therefore, we knew it was essential to expand the program this year in order to help communities maximize the impact of their public safety initiatives," said ComEd Senior Vice President Fidel Marquez. "All of the municipalities receiving grants through this program have proposed innovative ideas to help enhance safety for the people they serve. We commend them for championing this important effort," said Marquez. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Highland Park — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, a regional council of governments that fosters collaboration to improve the quality of life for communities in the region, will administer the Powering Safe Communities grants, which offer additional resources to provide municipalities ways to improve the efficiency and delivery of public safety programs, address unmet safety needs and increase community resiliency. All applications were reviewed by the Mayors Caucus, which awarded grants of up to $10,000 were offered to 25 of the most innovative, impactful, and essential public safety projects.

"Municipal governments throughout the area are resourceful in their efforts to keep their communities safe," said Fox River Grove Mayer Bob Nunamaker, executive board chairman of the Mayors Caucus. "We applaud the tireless work of our public servants who are dedicated to assuring the safety and well-being of their community members."

_{Top photo: Firefighter wearing respirator | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}