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Baltimore Co. Fire Dept. To Buy Life-Saving EKGs With $1.75M Federal Grant

PARKVILLE, Md. (WJZ)-- Using state-of-the-art technology to save lives. The Baltimore County Fire Department is receiving nearly $2 million in new cardiac arrest equipment.

Andrea Fujii explains this grant was competitive to get.

It's emergency situations in which many times EKG machines are essential in saving lives. And now Baltimore County will buy 60 new ones thanks to a $1.75 million federal grant.

"This will allow us to update our career stations and any of our volunteer stations with the latest technology as it applies to bringing people back to life with cardiac monitors," Chief John Hohman of the Baltimore County Fire Department said.

Boh Hatter's heart stopped beating on the basketball court. He is alive today because of an EKG machine.

"I was very fortunate that the right people were available when it was needed," Hatter, a Towson resident, said.

The county's older models have saved thousands of lives, but are now 10 years old. The new ones are state-of-the-art and send critical information directly to the emergency room before the patient even arrives.

Hundreds of fire departments across the country applied for the grant.

"The entire federal budget had $675 million in it," explained Sen. Barbara Mikulski. "You've won over a million and a half."

Giving new life to life-saving equipment.

The county is expected to purchase all 60 machines before the end of the year.

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