EASTON — Fire Chief Justin Alexander and Public Health Officer/Capt. Tim Vamosi are pleased to announce that the Easton Fire Department has been awarded two grants for its Community Health and Paramedicine program, which will help the program continue to offer existing programs, as well as begin new initiatives and outreach.
The department recently received a 2023 Massachusetts Car Seat Distribution Program grant. The $7,330.50 in funds will allow for the Community Health and Paramedicine program to distribute 55 child safety seats to community members who participate in the car seat safety program. Through the class, participants complete car seat safety training, including how to select the proper car seat and how to secure their child in the seat. Participants also receive a car seat – free of charge – and installation services from a qualified technician. Class attendees often include new parents, expecting parents and other caregivers.
A second grant, a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant in the amount of $34,287.60, will be used for community risk reduction programs and outreach.
Risk reduction efforts this fall will include offering programs like smoke alarm installations and home safety inspections, and outreach for electrical, stove top, burn and carbon monoxide safety.
The Community Health and Paramedicine program will also begin a fall risk prevention program, which will include providing items like flashlights, anti-gravity bars, night lights and more. This equipment will be offered in conjunction with completing a fall risk safety evaluation for residents with special care needs. The Easton Fire Department will also work with local vocational students who will help install equipment.
Additionally, the grant funding will be used to offer car seat installations to people in education birth classes in partnership with Good Samaritan Medical Center Labor and Delivery, and a water safety course at the town pool. The Community Health and Paramedicine program will also continue its bike safety classes, CPR training and sharps collection.
“We are grateful to receive this additional funding to put toward important health and safety programs for our community,” Capt. Vamosi said. “We are grateful to all our partners in the Town of Easton and the community who have helped to make this program successful, and we are proud to be able to expand our services and educational outreach. We look forward to adding the fall risk prevention program this year as another approach to addressing health concerns facing our community members.”
The Easton Community Health and Paramedicine program has seen significant progress and success in the past year after its launch at the end of 2021.
A partnership with the Boston Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Program led to the education of 60 families in the proper usage of car seats to help reduce traumatic injuries due to vehicle crashes. A total of 40 pediatric bike helmets were also distributed through the Boston Children’s Hospital partnership during a bike safety class for families. Both classes aim to help prevent traumatic injuries among youth.
The program also sought to increase awareness of heart health and prepare community members to be able to respond to sudden cardiac arrest, stroke, heart attacks and other medical emergencies by offering CPR/AED/First Aid training courses. In 2022, 65 people were certified in CPR, and so far in 2023, another 106 people have been certified in CPR. These 171 individuals are now trained to handle these types of emergencies within their families, workplaces and community.
The Community Health and Paramedicine program blends health care, public safety and public health with the goal of implementing an effective and accessible Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) Program. MIH programs utilize mobile resources to deliver care and services to patients in an out‐of‐hospital environment in coordination with healthcare facilities or other healthcare providers.
In addition to educational outreach and training within the community, the program also offers services like vaccinations and screenings. In collaboration with Health and Community Services, the Community Health program has distributed over 400 COVID-19 and flu vaccines to the community and its most vulnerable populations through vaccine clinics and home visits. Over 10,000 COVID-19 home test kits have also been distributed to assist with early detection and to help slow transmission of the disease.
The program offers weekly blood pressure clinics, completing approximately 520 blood pressure screenings and blood glucose screenings in 2022, and 220 blood pressure screenings to date in 2023.
Furthermore, the sharps collection program collected 364 pounds of sharps in 2022 and 150 pounds so far in 2023.
The Community Health and Paramedicine program is also working with the town’s new mental health counselor, Stephanie Cantave. In her new role, Cantave will be coordinating mental health care, in collaboration with various town departments, for individuals in crisis or in need of mental health services.
“Capt. Vamosi’s Mobile Integrated Health program is one of the premiere programs in the state and has been a great success for our community,” Chief Alexander said. “We pride ourselves on taking a holistic approach to helping residents, and Capt. Vamosi’s work to coordinate all the different aspects of this program, including applying for and receiving grants like these, is a key reason for the program’s positive impact.”
About the Easton Community Health and Paramedicine program:
The Easton Community Health and Paramedicine program is a partnership between Easton’s Fire Department and Department of Health and Community Services. The program blends health care, public safety and public health. By investing in proactive and preventative care, the program seeks to provide support to residents that limits the need for emergency care whenever possible. Several events and initiatives are currently offered as part of the program. Learn more here or here.
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