The City of Maricopa Fire/Medical Department has received a donation of four video laryngoscopes, devices used for intubation, from the Maricopa Seniors organization.
Maricopa Fire/Medical Chief Brady Leffler and Deputy Chief of Operations Michael Grant accepted the donation at the Oct. 5 city council meeting. Peg Chapados, president of the seniors’ group, said the donation was fully supported by its board.
“We appreciate the tremendous job our first responders do,” she said. “The majority of their calls are medical, and many of those calls involve seniors. Our donation will have an immediate positive impact on increased intubation proficiency and better patient outcomes.”
Members of the organization were happy to make the donation because they know it will help save lives, according to vice president Lynn Bernier.
“We have an amazing Fire Department, and this is just one small way to thank them for all they do, every day,” she said.
Maricopa Fire/Medical Captain Osheah Davis thanked the seniors.
“This is a cutting-edge medical advancement that provides (our) paramedics the ability to be more proficient in a time-sensitive, life-saving skill. Long time coming and long overdue,” he said. “The members of the fire department deeply appreciate the donation made by Maricopa Seniors.”
The donation, valued at more than $6,500, provides a laryngoscope for each of city fire station. Laryngoscopes are small hand tools – the ones donated include a video camera – designed for visualization of the vocal cords and for placement of the endotracheal tube into the windpipe to help a patient breathe.
“Our donation is possible thanks to the continued support from the community and our donors of our lock box program,” said Chapados.
That program, she added, has installed more than 450 lock boxes on buildings around the city and in the Heritage District, providing a cost-effective alternative to forced entry in emergency situations.
