Coventry fire chiefs thank town for LifePak 35 monitors bought with opioid-settlement funds

Representatives from Coventry's four fire districts told the Town Council they purchased LifePak 35 cardiac monitor-defibrillators using opioid-settlement funds and thanked the council for supporting the public-safety investment.

Chief Poppin, speaking for Hopkins Hill and on behalf of the four districts, said the units are "one of the most important tools we bring to a patient's side" and described features including lighter weight, rugged construction and a cellular modem that transmits EKG data to hospitals. "When that happens...those patients need PCI or the cath lab," Poppin said, noting real-time transmission helps hospitals open cath labs and speed care for serious heart attacks.

Chiefs from the Central Coventry, Coventry and Western Coventry districts joined the presentation and described recent training and how shared equipment will standardize capabilities across the town. Council members praised the investment and recognized a nomination for Vice President Brown for an Elwood Johnson leadership award for work with the Rhode Island Special Olympics.

Officials said the monitors were purchased with opioid-settlement funds and will replace aging equipment; training and outstanding SIM-card installation were in progress at the time of the meeting.