Kaminsky obtains $255,000 grant for Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department

A $255,000 grant obtained by State Sen. Todd Kaminsky for new equipment purchased by the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department will pay for the purchase of a new ambulance, a Lifepak monitor-defibrillator and telemetry equipment.

“Fire departments are at the top list when it comes to needs and we want to make sure that they have the latest technology,” said Kaminsky, who secured the money through the State and Municipal Facilities Program. “We get to sleep in our beds and they know that they have to go out and help.”

Having the importance of having the most up-to-date equipment was evident last December, when at the scene of a fire, emergency medical technician Mayer Adler, certified first responder Robert Player and paramedic Shoshana Weiner realized that fellow LCFD member Capt. Jack Kelly had gone into cardiac arrest — a sudden, sometimes temporary, stoppage in heart function. The trio began cardiac pulmonary resuscitation, used the defibrillator that was purchased with the grant money and worked in the words of Cedarhurst village officials “tirelessly to save his life.”

“We purchased a Lifepak 15, which is used for advanced cardiac monitoring,” said LCFD Chief James McHugh. “It is mandatory for any paramedic to treat a patient.” Telemetry equipment is used for automated communications.

Kaminsky will present Liberty medals to Adler, Player and Weiner as well as Kelly. The Liberty Award is one of the highest civilian honors that can be bestowed by a New York state senator upon a resident of New York. The Liberty Medal is awarded as a commendation for exceptional, heroic or humanitarian acts on behalf of New Yorkers.

“You have to put forth a resolution in the [state] Senate and the medal is literally for life-saving acts, it is the highest commendation, Kaminsky said.

The medal presentation is on Sunday, July 21 at 10 a.m., at the Lawrence-Cedarhurst firehouse at 75 Washington Ave. in Lawrence.