Keeping Chatham-Kent residents safe will be at the forefront at tonight’s council meeting.
Members will vote on three motions that include the replacement of medical equipment, new CPR equipment, and defibrillators for paramedics.
Officials at Riverview Gardens long term care facility are looking to replace 60 ceiling lifts, 60 hanger bars for ceiling lifts, ten wide hanger bars, five motorized hanger bars/ceiling lifts, ten scales for ceiling lifts in tub rooms and two tub chair lifts. Council will vote to approve the sole source bid from Arjo Canada Inc. at a total value of $280,327.91 which will be fully funded through a provincial grant from the Ministry of Long-Term Care.
Administration is also recommending purchasing five Stryker Lucas CPR Devices for Chatham-Kent first responders for $136,462.47 which includes the cost of the devices and maintenance over five years.
According to the report the devices “are designed to deliver consistent, high quality chest compressions during resuscitation, thus reducing fatigue and eliminating the need to switch providers every two minutes. This allows paramedics to focus on overall patient care while maintaining uninterrupted compressions, even during transport or in challenging conditions.”
A third motion for the purchase of 18 LifePak35 Paramedic Monitor/ Defibrillators will also be voted on.
The 18 devices from Stryker Canada have a cost of $895,316.37, with a one year maintenance agreement for each of the units at a cost of $286,718.18.
Administration is recommending that funding for the 18 devices and the first year of maintenance come from the Ambulance Equipment Reserve, with the costs of subsequent maintenance agreements to be covered in future budgets.
Council will also hear a report on the emergency purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for community buildings.
66 Zoll AED units and associated accessories such as signs, cases, and extra parts were purchased for $138,504.26 from the Building Lifecycle Reserve.
These units were purchased after administration was advised that replacement parts for the municipality’s aging AED units would no longer be available from the supplier. The report notes that immediate replacement was necessary to keep these critical life-saving units operational and ensure public safety in community buildings.