The Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) offers competitive funding through their Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) Program. RSAF is a matching grant program that is open to governmental, volunteer, non-profit EMS organizations, and non-licensed EMS agencies located in Virginia. The primary goal of the RSAF program is to provide financial assistance in order to purchase EMS equipment, vehicles, and to provide for needed EMS programs and projects. As a licensed EMS agency, the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management (FREM) requests to submit a grant application requesting $16,980 to fund the purchase of four training simulation systems.
The training simulation systems will be utilized for all types of EMS scenario-based training exercises, eliminating the need for more costly mannequins, monitors, and simulators. The system will utilize wirelessly-connected Apple iPads to provide a medical training tool that is lightweight and portable. Facilitators will be able to quickly, easily, and intuitively provide a realistic platform for students to learn from through the use of a simulation-centered education. The system is designed to simulate the same functions as the Physio Lifepaks that FREM currently utilizes in the field. The facilitator has the ability to toggle through settings and update vital signs seen by the student, including blood pressure, cardiac rhythm, pulse rate, and pulse oximetry readings. Based on the scenario, students can interact with the simulator as a full Lifepak monitor, providing for life savings interventions such as cardiac pacing or defibrillation.
The application deadline for this grant is September 15, 2017. The program typically requires a 50% local cash match. This local match will be met through the use of FREM’s FY 2018 Adopted Budget ($980) and from use of Information Services FY 2018 Adopted Budget ($16,000) as part of the approved FREM Technology Request.