Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick will award the Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad with a competitive federal grant next week.

On Monday, Fitzpatrick will join LFHRS Executive Director Steve Hare, as well as other members of the company and the Levittown community, to announce the awarding of a federal grant, according to a news release.

The Federal Emergency Management Agencies Assistant to Firefighters Grant Program is the agency awarding the $46,856 grant.

The funds will allow the LFHRS to purchase personal protective equipment for rescuer safety, including rescue coats, pants and helmets. The grant will also fund the purchase of specialized ventilator units.

"It is critical that our first responders have the tools necessary to protect our community," Fitzpatrick said. "With this new rescue gear for our EMT’s and paramedics in Levittown, we can have confidence that they will be protected while saving lives. I am proud to stand with and support first responders like those here at the Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad who put their lives on the line every day to help others."

Hare also stressed the importance of equipping the EMT’s and paramedics with new personal protective equipment.

"This grant allows us to make critical protective equipment upgrades that will help protect those tasked with serving our community."

The new rescue gear is designed to protect the EMT or paramedic from twisted steel, broken glass, and infectious material while treating a victim of a car crash or other highly dangerous incident. The new ventilator units will allow LFHRS paramedics to improve their ability to treat patients with severe respiratory emergencies.

The Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad, Inc. is a private provider of 9-1-1 ambulance service to the communities in Lower Bucks County. Their primary response area includes half of Bristol Township, Falls Township, Tullytown Borough, and portions of Middletown and Lower Makefield Townships. LFHRS was established in 1955 and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Their staff consists of a combination of over 100 career and volunteer members providing 24 hour, seven days-a-week advanced life support ambulance coverage from both our Main Station (Squad 154) located at 7405 New Falls Road in Levittown and our Falls Township Station (Squad 155) located at 48 Makefield Road in Morrisville.