HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Hanover Township Fire District No. 3 (Cedar Knolls) purchased the second of two cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPR) Lucas devices. The acquisition, which was funded in large part by a $10,500 donation from Barclays employees, enables both ambulances to now have 24/7 access to this equipment, eliminating the constraints of sharing one.
The move will save lives. Being automated, the Lucas device maintains consistent CPR chest compressions over extended periods of time – something not humanly possible – and thereby helps Emergency Medical Technicians and Firefighters potentially achieve a better outcome when responding to urgent medical calls.
“We’re thrilled our members and staff now have this second device and are so grateful to Barclays Bank for helping us realize this goal,” commented Bob O’Hare, Chairman of the Cedar Knolls Board of Fire Commissioners. “This is something we’ve been working toward for a while now, but with initial estimated costs of $19,000, it’s been out of our budgetary reach.” O’Hare went on to explain that last spring Barclays spoke with the Township’s Community Affairs/Public Policy Coordinator and learned of the need. The company wasted no time in connecting with Fire Chief Chad DiGiorgio with an offer to fundraise through employee and corporate donations to contribute $10,500 toward the purchase of a second device.
Chief DiGiorgio respects and admires how successfully Barclays met their fundraising goal. “It feels like yesterday that Barclays approached me with the offer to help,” he noted. “I was simply overwhelmed when they surprised me at their facility in early February to hand me a check for a little over $10,500 to help buy the device.”
Using $6,500.00 the Board of Fire Commissioners had been reserving to make the purchase, DiGiorgio placed the order on March 10, 2020. Delivery was expedited and the new Lucas device was permanently installed in the second ambulance on March 16, 2020. DiGiorgio emphasized that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the timing of the purchase could not have been better. “Anything we can do to enhance public safety during this pandemic is vital.”
For their part, Mayor Ron Francioli and Township Committeeman Brian Cahill, governing body liaison to the Board of Fire Commissioners, were effusive in their praise of the initiative. “The generous donation from Barclays’ employees toward the purchase of the Lucas device is the latest gesture in their outstanding support of our community,” stated Francioli. Cahill concurred, adding, “With everything our first responders are up against right now, how wonderful to hear that by working together with Barclays, they were able to purchase and install this piece of equipment that will undoubtedly help save lives.”
