Broken Arrow will spend nearly $840,000 on new emergency medical equipment for its fire department. EMS Major Tony McGill said the purchases is intended to standardize gear across every responding unit and reduce lifting injuries to first responders.

The Broken Arrow City Council authorized four purchases totaling $839,872.59 from Stryker Emergency Medical Services Equipment at its Tuesday, Oct. 6, meeting, according to the city's council highlights page. The full breakdown was reported by KJRH on Thursday, Oct. 8.

The largest line item is $650,400 for 12 LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitors. The department replaced half its monitors the prior year, prioritizing ambulances because of cost. The Oct. 6 purchase will complete the switch once the equipment enters service to the LIFEPAK 35 on fire trucks and ladder trucks, so every responding unit carries compatible equipment.

McGill told KJRH the newer monitors give paramedics more capability to examine electrocardiogram readings and include built-in Wi-Fi for communicating with hospitals and updating the devices. The order also provides reserve units for equipment failures, special events and emergencies that require extra trucks.

Broken Arrow operates a fire-based EMS system that assigns an advanced life-support paramedic to every fire truck, rescue unit and ladder truck. That means whichever unit arrives first can begin treatment.

"Anytime somebody calls 911 and has a problem, the fire department's going to show up," McGill said. "Whether it's an ambulance, a fire truck, a rescue, a ladder, somebody's going to be there to help out."

Three LUCAS mechanical CPR devices cost $55,000. Once placed on a patient, the machines deliver continuous chest compressions, freeing crew members to manage airways and administer medication. McGill said the devices are especially important in a moving ambulance because they maintain compressions without requiring a crew member to stand over a patient.

The remaining purchases cover powered patient-handling gear: one Power-PRO cot and one Power-LOAD system for a new ambulance at $68,601.59, plus two additional Power-PRO cots at $65,871. Powered cots and loaders reduce manual lifting. McGill said the department has seen a sharp drop in shoulder, elbow and back injuries since it began using the systems in 2018. The powered equipment also protects patients by reducing the chance of a cot-loading mistake, he said.

The fire department aims to have all the new equipment in service by Nov. 1. The council's next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m.