Ohio County Emergency Medical Services Receives Grant

The grant was given by the Ohio County Community Foundation.

 Jane Angst, Ohio County Community Foundation, Executive Director, Michael Wallace, Assistant Director of Ohio County EMS, and Noah Rose, EMT. Photo provided.

(Rising Sun, Ind.) - The Ohio County Community Foundation has awarded the Ohio County Rescue Services the 2022 Annual Celebration Grant in the amount of $10,024. The funds were awarded to purchase protective vests for emergency service responders and triage kits to aid in the event of an Active Shooter/Mass Casualty incident.

The Ohio County Community Foundation was established in 1998 and this year marks the 24th year of the Foundation’s existence. To celebrate, $10,024 in unrestricted funds from the Rising Sun Regional Foundation for Ohio County Endowment Fund was set aside for this grant opportunity. The Annual OCCF Celebration Grant Program is a competitive grant program. Grant request funds must be used for projects or programs outside of the organization’s normal funding capabilities and must benefit the residents of Ohio County. All applicants are required to submit an application and attend a 30-minute interview to present their funding request before the Foundation staff and Board members.

The awarded grant will allow the Ohio County Rescue Services to purchase 10 Rapid Response Protective Vests with medical supplies and ballistic armor, storage bags and triage kits. Michael Wallace, Assistant Director of Ohio County EMS stated, “With the rise of mass shootings in the United States we want our EMT’s to be prepared and protected if/when such an emergency situation arises in Ohio County. We will be placing three protective vests on each ambulance, two on our Mobile Emergency response vehicle and one for the Director of EMS and one for the Assistant Director of EMS in the event they must respond from home.

This will ensure that every responding EMT is protected. The vests will also be used in the event our department is asked to assist during an event in a neighboring county. The funds will also be used to purchase 10 S.M.A.R.T Triage kits. These kits will be used during a mass casualty event such as a shooting, traffic accident or a natural disaster where a triage will be required to organize the treatment of victims.”

For more information concerning the Ohio County Community Foundation grants program, please call the Foundation office at 812-438-9401 or email, Stephanie Scott, Program Coordinator at sscott@occfrisingsun.com.