Roundup for Safety awards grant for EKG machines for school clinics

The Flathead Electric Cooperative Roundup for Safety Board on Dec. 14 awarded $47,569 — a new record amount of funding — to 10 area nonprofits seeking support for community safety projects.  

Greater Valley Health Center provides whole-person health care at its Kalispell, Evergreen, and Hungry Horse locations and operates Student Clinics at Elrod, Rankin, and East Evergreen elementary schools; Kalispell Middle School; Evergreen Junior High School; Glacier High School; and Linderman Education Center. The Student Clinics are financially supported by School District 5, the Montana Healthcare Foundation, and Greater Valley Health Center. 

Susie McEwen presented on behalf of Greater Valley’s request for $9,000 to fund two EKG machines. 

McEwen noted, “EKG machines are necessities in medical clinics, and not just when students or staff come to the clinic with life-threatening chest issues, which we do see in our school clinics. EKGs are also critical for monitoring patients suffering from eating disorders, and those in need of sports physicals, too.” 

December grantees also include Friends of the Flathead Snowmobile Association – training - $5,000; Marion School – Emergent SaferWatch app - $2,000; Flathead County Search & Rescue – clutch system, clips - $4,869; Dave Thompson Search & Rescue – ice and water rescue equipment - $5,000; Logan Health Whitefish – ice cleats - $3,000; Flathead High School Theatre/Sch Dst 5 – ladder, hard hats, harnesses - $1,700; Kalispell Montessori – Emergent SaferWatch app, suction kit, choking device - $5,000; Children’s House Montessori – fencing - $7,000;  Glacier Nordic – railing and stairs, med kits, radios - $5,000.

All Roundup for Safety funding comes from participating Flathead Electric Cooperatives members who allow their monthly electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. The program costs each member about $6 per year and has provided over $4.8 million in funding since 1997. To learn more, visit https://www.flatheadelectric.com/our-community/roundup-for-safety/