ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Pennsylvania’s new budget is providing new funding for EMS equipment.
The Cetronia Ambulance Corps got to show off some of that new tech to state officials Tuesday. Pennsylvania’s Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection, Shane Lockwood, toured Cetronia’s headquarters, seeing the results of state investment for himself.
“Governor Shapiro has signed the 26-27 budget, which included over $6 million dollars from the EMS operating fund,” said Lockwood.
Thanks to that $6 million in grants provided this year, every single ambulance in the Eastern Region of Pennsylvania is going to be provided with a UEScope for video laryngoscopy. Cetronia Director of Operations, Carrie Frey, demonstrated the new equipment.
“Technology has changed quite a bit,” said Frey.
But first, she showed us how they intubated a patient in the past.
“This is where you have to visually look in the patient’s mouth to see where those vocal cords are,” said Frey.
With the new tech, no more looking. There’s a screen for that.
“We’re going to go into the patient’s mouth, and the white chords there are the vocal chords,” said Frey.
But the devices aren’t cheap, and without the new state funding, Cetronia wouldn’t have them.
“That particular product, as it sits there right now runs at about… $1,850, and that doesn’t include the ongoing maintenance, the batteries, and other sustainment equipment,” said John Kloss, the executive director of the Eastern PA EMS Council.
The funding is also providing portable 12-lead EKG devices. So, the next time there’s an emergency, first responders will be more ready than ever.
“Their support helps ensure that frontline providers have the tools that they need to save lives and serve our communities at the highest level,” said Frey.