Journal & Topics Media Group

New Equipment Approved For Mount Prospect Fire Department


Mount Prospect police and fire department headquarters at Northwest Highway and Maple Street. (Journal photo)

The Mount Prospect Fire Department will be purchasing four automatic chest compression devices and seven thermal imaging cameras in 2019.

Trustees approved the equipment upgrade requests 6-0 at the Tuesday, Feb. 19 regular village board meeting.

Fire Chief Brian Lambel told the board that after reviewing three bids, the fire department settled on the Lucas automatic chest compression devices due to their compatibility with Northwest Community Emergency Medical Services.

“The American Heart Association recommends compressions be the same rate and depth,” said Lambel, that rate being 100 counts per minute with a depth of 1-1/2 to 2 inches. The rates are based on a clinical study of over 200,000 people worldwide, Lambel said.

While the total cost of the devices is $51,880, the village will only pay $4,756, due to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant that was awarded to the fire department in 2018.

Taking the lowest of three bids the fire department will purchase the Bullard QXT Thermal Imaging Cameras from Dinges Fire Co. at a cost of $53,795.

The cameras help firefighters locate victims during a search and rescue operation. They are also used to find fire extensions, hazardous materials and keep account of personnel among other uses.

The cost of the cameras came in just under the Capital Improvement Plan budget of $54,000.

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