Councilor Hunter Williams details essential lifesaving equipment upgrades to all city ambulances

In a year that has put first responders on the frontline of an unprecedented public health crisis, the importance of having access to lifesaving equipment has become a major focus nationwide.

On Monday, Councilor Hunter Williams joined Mayor Randall Woodfin, and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Chief Cory Moon in announcing new state-of-the-art defibrillation equipment as well as automated CPR machines in all city ambulances.

Williams, who is Chair of the Public Safety Committee, said that his priority has been to work with the Mayor’s administration to ensure that our first responders have the most up-to-date equipment and protocols to serve the residents of Birmingham.

“For the past few years we’ve been focused on making significant upgrades and modernizing all of our overall public safety infrastructure, from the time someone calls 911 to how our departments respond to those calls,” Williams said. “Modernization of all of the emergency medical equipment inside our ambulances in the city of Birmingham will have a huge positive impact on the services that Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service can provide our citizens.”

In addition to the automated CPR machines and state-of-the-art defibrillators, each ambulance will also be outfitted with new electronic stretchers.

“These new technology and equipment upgrades increase the likelihood of survival from an emergency scene to the hospital,” Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “Since coming into office, our administration has dedicated resources to reviewing and upgrading every aspect of how we respond to emergencies in Birmingham. This is another major step in that direction.”

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Chief Cory Moon said the new equipment will improve the quality of emergency care for all of Birmingham’s residents.

“Birmingham Fire and Rescue, like any department across the country, has standards that we must meet for response times, and it’s something we focus heavily on improving every single day. This new equipment will help improve the quality of emergency care that our residents will be able to receive and help us save lives.”