PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Portage Department of Public Safety’s Fire Division recently got a financial boost to go towards Emergency Medical Services Training.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded a nearly $37,000-dollar grant to the department on Friday, August 11, to facilitate the training of Fire Division members for Emergency Medical Technician, or EMT certification.
Officials say the grant will pay for the cost of the EMT training as well as any associated overtime costs, with the City of Portage kicking in about 10%, or just over $3,300-dollars. They go onto say the funding is critical for the increased EMT certification within the Fire Division because nearly 70% of the calls for service they receive are medical calls, therefore resulting in better outcomes for Portage residents needing assistance due to a medical emergency.
Deputy Director of Public Safety Jeff VanderWiere said, “This grant will assist in improving the training of our personnel so we can continue to provide the highest level of care to the citizens and visitor of the City of Portage.”
Fire safety grants fund critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies, and support community resilience. Currently, in
Portage, firefighters with a Medical First Responder (MFR) certification can be hired. The grant will allow the department to train those firefighters for the higher EMT certification.
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