The Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) offers competitive funding through its 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 program typically requires a 50% local cash match of the total project costs. 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 non-licensed EMS agency, the Sheriff’s Office submitted a grant application requesting $5,450 in grant funds to purchase five new Lifepak 1000 AED kits. This project will allow the Sheriff’s office to purchase additional AEDs for patrol inventory which will allow all patrol deputies, on any given shift, the ability to be equipped with an AED in their vehicle. The requested AEDs are compatible with the life support devices used by the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management (FREM). If compatible devices are used by the Sheriff’s Office and FREM the agencies should be able to provide better patient care and have a quicker response time on the scene.
On January 3, 2019, the Sheriff’s Office was notified that its grant application for $5,450 was approved to purchase five AEDs. The grant requires a 50% local match of the total project costs, or $5,450, which the Sheriff’s Office will meet through the use of their FY19 Adopted Budget. The AEDs will come with an eight year warranty. The AEDs must be ordered from the vendor by February 28, 2019. Reimbursements must be requested by July 31, 2019 or sixty days after the items are received, which ever date occurs first.
In addition, an updated resolution is attached for OEMS’ online grant application system. The system requires individuals to be designated as authorized agents to act on the County’s behalf in the application and management of RSAF grants. The attached resolution will enable several individuals to act on the County’s behalf.