On Friday, May 20th, 2016 the Fire Company received official notification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that we have been selected to receive two Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants in Round 3 of the 2015 awards cycle. Together, these grants awards total $268,645.

The first grant, in the amount of $59,395, will be utilized to provide health screenings, physical examinations, and immunizations for our personnel. This funding will aid in identifying health issues and ensure for the wellness of our volunteers and career staff members. Historically, the leading cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States has been attributed to cardiac related issues. In Chester County, three Line of Duty fatalities have been recorded in the last decade which were a result of sudden cardiac arrest.

It is our goal to ensure that we properly identify any potential underlying medical conditions and promote proper physical fitness for our firefighters and emergency medical personnel. As a secondary portion of the grant award, we will receive nearly $16,000 in exercise equipment to enable our crews to maintain the ability to perform aspects of our daily job related duties.

The second grant received was a joint effort with the Union Fire Company of Oxford and the Avondale Fire Company for the purchase of automatic stretcher loading and lifting devices to outfit each of the nine total ambulances operated by our three organizations.

This large Regional grant has been funded in the amount of $209,250. The Westwood Fire Company will receive a share of $94,000 for the purchase of four systems, the Union Fire Company Ambulance will receive a share of $70,500 for the purchase of three systems, and the Avondale Fire Company will receive $47,000 for the purchase of two systems.

The proposed systems will be installed into our ambulances and will eliminate the chance of first responder injury or disability, eliminate the risk of dropping patients, and lessen on-scene times, expediting care to hospitals by mechanically lifting the stretcher into the ambulance without excessive exertion from the EMS crews. This grant will become a proven asset both operationally and fiscally; with a reduction in injuries and insurance expenses to be a financial benefit to our local taxpayers.

This second grant which was a group effort proves the benefit of a partnership and regional relationships for the improvement of service to not only our local community, but adjacent districts as well. We would like to express our thanks to the leadership of the Union Fire Company Ambulance and Avondale Fire Company for their cooperation in this joint effort.

As a regional conglomeration, Westwood, Oxford, and Avondale EMS divisions provide service to a total of 17 municipalities including Valley Township, East Fallowfield Township, Wallace Township, West Brandywine Township, West Caln Township, East Brandywine Township, Lower Oxford Township, Upper Oxford Township, West Nottingham Township, East Nottingham Township, Elk Township, New Garden Township, Franklin Township, London Grove Township, West Marlborough Township, and the Boroughs of Oxford and Avondale.

We provide Fire, Rescue, and EMS services to a combined total of approximately 70,254 citizens over a first due area of 202.7 square miles. All three departments operate with a combination of volunteer and paid personnel to ensure protection of the community during all hours of the day and night.

These two grant awards bring our total Federal grant funding received from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to $1,601,255 since 2004. Grants of this type help our Fire Company continue to remain a very cost effective service to the community, and we would like to thank all of those who were instrumental in the success of these grant awards.