Peabody Fire Gets Grant For Epinephrine Auto-Injectors

PEABODY, MA - From Peabody Fire Department: Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr., State Representative Thomas Walsh and the City of Peabody Fire Department are pleased to announce that the Peabody Fire Department has received grant funding from the Allergy and Asthma Awareness, Initiative, Inc. (AAAI, Inc.) for Epinephrine Auto-Injectors. Mayor Bettencourt and State Representative Walsh were instrumental in working together with Kristie DeLoreto, the President of AAAI, Inc., on this initiative to secure this grant for the Fire Department.

"Peabody continues to improve its ability to effectively and rapidly respond to emergencies of all kinds," Mayor Bettencourt said. “He further stated, by continuing our commitment to better equip and train our firefighters, the Peabody Fire Department will be better prepared to protect all our citizens in the event of an anaphylactic medical emergency and I wish to thank the AAAI, Inc. for partnering with this city and providing the funding for the Epinephrine Auto-Injectors.”

Representative Walsh stated, “I was happy to be able to assist the Peabody Fire Department in its mission
to save lives by facilitating the partnership between the AAAI, Inc. and the Peabody Fire Department.

Chief Steven Pasdon of Peabody said, “I am very grateful to the AAAI, Inc, and Kristie DeLoreto for funding
this most valuable initiative that enables us to administer Epinephrine in a timely fashion when seconds
count in saving a life.

The Mission and History of AAAI, Inc. from their website: The AAAI, Inc. was formed from a need to make
the world safe for people living with allergies and asthma. Each of our board members lives with allergies,
asthma and food intolerance within their families. We saw that education and awareness was lacking and
found a way to change that.

In 2013, we went to the superintendent of schools in Peabody to discuss raising awareness around these
diseases and we were met with positivity and complete support. Shortly thereafter, a network of other
parents of allergic and asthmatic children formed. In 2015, our group officially became a non-profit
organization and Allergy and Asthma Awareness Initiative, Inc. was formed!

The Fire Department would also like to thank Atlantic ambulance for providing the necessary training in the
administration of the Epinephrine and Lahey Health (Burlington) and Dr. Erik Wang for providing the
necessary Medical Direction.

The program went live today on August 8, 2018.

Image via Peabody Fire Department