PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to request City Council authorization to accept a $15,625 Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Act Grant from the County of Los Angeles, approve the related agreement amendment, and amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007-08 budget by appropriating funds.

BACKGROUND:

Through the approval of Measure �B�, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DOH) has funded the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Act Grant to improve local delivery of emergency medical care to the sick and injured.  Part of this grant includes funding to assist local fire departments with the purchase of 12-lead capable defibrillators with capnography for all active fire apparatus.  In December of 2006, the Burbank Fire Department accepted a grant from the County of Los Angeles DOH to purchase six new defibrillators with 12-lead capability and capnography and upgrade eight of our existing units to this same technology.  Each fire apparatus is now equipped with one of these monitors. 

The improved defibrillator technology undoubtedly provides better patient care at the scene of an emergency.  The 12-lead monitors give paramedics the ability to have a more sophisticated Electrocardiogram (EKG) reading in the field, showing six different views of the heart rather than the one view provided by the 3-lead monitors.  Capnography has been shown to decrease overall patient mortality rates when used by Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers.  This function measures the CO2 output from an unconscious and unresponsive patient that is in full arrest.  The CO2 levels indicate when a tube has been dislodged during intubation, allowing paramedics to make the necessary adjustments to get oxygen flowing into the lungs.

DISCUSSION:

After the Measure �B� funds were distributed to all eligible agencies throughout Los Angeles County, a remaining balance of available funds still existed.  In order to expend this balance, the County DOH is offering each agency the opportunity to purchase one additional defibrillator.  The Burbank Fire Department would like to take this opportunity to purchase one additional unit to serve as a spare during times when a defibrillator is being serviced or is undergoing regular maintenance.  This will virtually guarantee that every active fire apparatus in the City will be equipped with a working 12-lead defibrillator at all times.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The total cost of the new 12-lead defibrillator is $16,949.  After the purchase, the Burbank Fire Department will be eligible to receive a reimbursement grant in the amount of $15,625 from the Los Angeles County DOH.  The difference will be taken from the Fire Department�s existing General Fund budget.  To purchase the unit, the Fire Department is requesting that the budget be amended to appropriate $15,625 from account 001.FD000.48010.1999 (Fire Department � Miscellaneous Grants) to account number 001.FD03A.70011 (Emergency Medical Services � Operating Equipment).

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution accepting the grant, approving the agreement amendment, and amending the FY 2007-2008 budget by appropriating the funds in the amount of $15,625.

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