Safety grants to provide masks, filter systems

A $4,397 Flathead Electric Cooperative Roundup for Safety grant will provide portable nitrous oxide masks to West Valley Fire & Rescue for stabilizing patients in the field.

The masks, traditionally used for pain management in dental offices, have now been approved for use by emergency medical technicians. Before, fire and rescue crews had to wait for Advanced Life Support (ALS) to arrive on scene before they could alleviate the pain of their patients. Now, ALS resources can be freed up to respond elsewhere if needed.

In addition to West Valley Fire & Rescue, Flathead Electric’s Roundup for Safety board also awarded a $5,000 grant to Climate Smart Glacier Country for HEPA filter systems, bringing the total awarded at the June meeting to $9,397.

Roundup for Safety is a voluntary program for Flathead Electric Cooperative members who allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the next dollar, with the extra money going into a fund for community nonprofit safety projects. For additional information about the program, call Wendy Ostrom Price at 406-751-1820 or visit www.flatheadelectric.com/roundup.