Bank Donation Could Save Manchester, Town and Country Lives

Eagle Bank and Trust Company is donating lifesaving thermal imagers to 12 St. Louis area fire departments, including the  in Manchester.

The donations are part of the bank's celebration of its 100th anniversary, a bank representative said in a release.

Thermal imagers can help save the lives of both firefighters and victims during fire rescues, especially when there is heavy smoke. 

Bank Spokeswoman Susan Evans tells Patch that Eagle Bank donated the thermal imagers to make the celebration more about the neighborhoods that the bank serves versus just being about the bank. Evans said bank representatives consulted with a few fire departments in their various communities and thermal imagers were suggested by the departments as a helpful device. 

West County EMS and Fire Protection District received its thermal imager Wednesday.

"We are very grateful for this gift. This equipment uses infrared technology to see through the darkness and smoke encountered in structure fires and helps firefighters locate victims, search for hidden fire and recognize potentially life-threatening dangers faster," said Kim Bacon, spokesperson for the West County EMS and Fire Protection District.

According to Eagle Bank, Missouri has been ranked as the 10th deadliest state when it comes to fire deaths, with an average of 120 fire deaths annually and this donation is an effort to help prevent those deaths.

Eagle Bank is also making donations, starting this week, to 11 other fire departments located in Affton, Arnold, Brentwood, Cedar Hill, Chippewa, DeSoto, Festus, High Ridge, Hillsboro, Kirkwood and Perryville.

 The imagers cost approximately $5,000 each, Evans said.