GONZALES — The Geismar Volunteer Fire Department and St. Amant Volunteer Fire Department are about to get some new equipment thanks to a couple of donations from Shell Chemical Geismar.
The facility donated $100,000 to the Geismar Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a new emergency response vehicle, and $50,000 to the St. Amant Volunteer Fire department to buy two CPR LUCAS Devices. These chest compression systems are made by Stryker, and deliver consistent, continuous chest compressions to a patient who is in cardiac arrest.
“It’s the new, the most updated medical tool that you can strap on to somebody and it does the compressions for you while you’re doing the breathing,” St. Amant Volunteer Fire Department Chief James LeBlanc explained. “Right now, about 80% of all the volunteer fire departments in Ascension Parish have LUCAS devices on their vehicles. So just hats off to these industry facilities that just continue to help us out.”
During Thursday’s Ascension Parish Council meeting, the Vice President and General Manager of Shell Geismar, James “JJ” Howell, presented two checks the departments.
“Shell’s support of the volunteer fire departments is directly aligned with our community and industry needs,” he said. “Shell and our industry partners are heavy users of the Highway 30 corridor.”
“Our investment in the Geismar Fire Department to purchase a new emergency response vehicle gives them the great opportunity to respond quickly and effectively to medical emergencies or traffic accidents along that corridor,” he continued. “And then our purchase or support to purchase two LUCAS devices in St. Amant, where a large contingent of our employees live, allows them and enables their capability to support and respond to medical emergencies across that area.”
“We were super thankful to be had this opportunity. We’re excited about being here tonight. And on behalf of the Shell Geismar team, let me tell you that we really appreciate being part of and calling Ascension Parish home,” Howell said.
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