More than 160 rural emergency services agencies in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota are receiving a portion of $450,000 in grants from Compeer Financial.

The Emergency Response Equipment Program is provided by the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America. The program’s mission is to support rural communities in Compeer Financial’s territory by funding emergency response equipment for volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments.

Grants are funding a variety of needs, including updating communication equipment and purchasing new protective gear, thermal imaging cameras and portable medical equipment for first responders.

“By helping get these first responders the tools and equipment they need, they can better serve our rural communities and farms,” says John Monson, chairman of the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America board of trustees. “Ensuring that all aspects of our communities are well-equipped to serve all of their citizens is important to our cooperative, clients and team members. It’s where we work and live, too.”

Compeer Financial plans to offer the Emergency Response Equipment Program annually, with the application process being open during the month of August.

Following is a list of recipients in Wisconsin:

• Albany Area EMS to purchase a computer for the ambulance
• Alto Fire Department to purchase personal protective turnout gear
• Apple River Fire and Rescue to purchase a water rescue boat and equipment
• Arcadia Ambulance Service to purchase multi-channel pagers
• Ashippun Fire Department to purchase CPR training mannequins that measure feedback and compression depth
• Belleville Fire District to purchase personal protective equipment for water rescues
• Boscobel and Rural Fire Department to purchase an inflatable rescue boat
• Brownsville Fire Co. to purchase tactical responder parkas, radian heavy vests and first-aid kits
• Chetek Fire to purchase high-angle rescue equipment and to train for its proper use
• Colfax Rescue to purchase a pulse oximeter/carbon monoxide monitor
• Dallas Sioux Creek Fire Department to purchase confined space/rope rescue equipment
• Dane Fire Department to purchase replacement noncompliant fire hose for engine and an additional traffic safety vest
• Darlington Emergency Medical Services Inc. (Green County EMS) to purchase two laptops for ambulances
• Deer Park Area Fire Department to purchase an electric positive pressure ventilation fan
• Dickeyville EMS to purchase an inflatable rescue boat
• Dodgeville Area Ambulance Service to purchase CPR training mannequins that provide feedback
• Dover-Gilmanton First Responders to purchase pagers and AEDs
• Edgerton Fire Protection District to purchase two rotary saws
• Elkhart Lake Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a rapid intervention firefighter rescue tool and an emergency hammer with a seat-belt cutter
• Ellsworth Area Ambulance Service to purchase recertified AED defibrillators
• Erv’s Sparta Area Fire Protection District to purchase replenishing liquids and eco-friendly moss to help contain and confine leaks during motor vehicle accidents
• Friesland Volunteer Fire Department to purchase helmet-mounted lights
• Harris Volunteer Fire Department Inc. to purchase a rescue basket, pulleys, harnesses and gloves
• Harrison Fire Rescue to purchase particulate and carcinogen protective hoods
• Kendall Fire Department to purchase lantern flashlights
• Knowles Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a blitz fire attack nozzle
• Lancaster Fire Department to purchase water rescue dry suits
• Lauderdale La Grange Fire and Rescue to purchase a battery-operated cutter and spreader for vehicle and debris extrication
• Lifestar Emergency Medical Services to purchase a CPR training mannequin with an airway head to practice intubations
• Linden Fire Department to purchase a structural turnout gear washer/extractor
• Marquette Volunteer Fire Department to purchase pagers and a programmer
• Melrose Volunteer Fire Department to purchase boots
• Mondovi Fire Department to purchase collapsible traffic cones and pagers
• Mount Horeb Joint Fire Department to purchase equipment to provide confined space and rope rescue response
• New Glarus Fire District to purchase three smooth-bore nozzles
• New Richmond Fire and Rescue Department to purchase four rescue ropes and one rescue saw
• Richland Center Fire Department to purchase a 100-watt mobile radio
• Rio Fire and EMS to upgrade the radio infrastructure in ambulances
• Rome Fire District to purchase a mobile radio with programming and microphone, voice pagers and LED stop/slow paddles for traffic control
• Rosendale Fire Department to purchase a task force blitz nozzle
• Rural Bridgeport-Prairie du Chien Fire Department to purchase grain bin rescue equipment
• Sauk Fire District/Sauk City Volunteer Fire Department to purchase rescue ropes, safety lanyards, helmets, carabiners, harnesses, D rings, pulleys, ascenders and other rope rescue equipment
• Sauk Prairie Ambulance Association to purchase a hemorrhage control training kit
• Sawyer County Ambulance to purchase wearable single-gas detectors
• Springfield Volunteer Fire Department to purchase helmets
• Stanley Fire Department to purchase a rescue chain set and tripod
• Tilden Fire Department to purchase an AED and accessories
• Town of Campbell Fire Department to purchase a positive pressure ventilation fan
• Town of Ixonia Fire and EMS to purchase an AED
• Town and Village of Eden Fire Department to purchase nozzles used on attack lines carried on engines
• Township Fire Department Inc. to purchase two AEDs
• Utica Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a battery-operated multi-tool that is a combination cutter/spreader
• Viroqua Fire Department to purchase high-angle rescue, farm rescue/extrication and swift water rescue equipment
• Wheatland Fire Department to purchase pagers and portable radios
• Wiota Fire Department and First Response to purchase pagers
• Yuba Volunteer Fire Department/Yuba First Responders to purchase CPR training mannequins

Source: Compeer Financial