Southcoast Health’s 2026 EMS Support Grant Program Awards Funds to 11 Municipal EMS Organizations Across the Region
Southcoast Health 
On Monday, June 22, 11 local emergency medical services (EMS) organizations were recognized as recipients of the 2026 Southcoast Health EMS Support Grant Program during an awards ceremony at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford.
“We are delighted to offer this support,” said Renee Clark, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Southcoast Health, speakingto the EMS leaders at the event. “As first responders, you are often the first to deliver care, wherever it is needed, and you create a warm handoff to our hospital emergency departments with the utmost skill and compassion. We greatly appreciate the unwavering support of all our EMS partners in caring for the South Coast region, and we hope this opportunity makes a positive difference for your teams.”
In its second year, the Southcoast Health EMS Support Grant is fully funded through the Southcoast Health Community Health and Wellness Program. Grant funds are intended to provide municipal EMS organizations, that provide direct patient care in the South Coast region, with monetary support to invest in and improve the critical patient services they deliver.
This year, over $100,000 was awarded across the 11 EMS organizations listed below to support specific initiatives or equipment upgrades that will have a direct impact on patient care:
- En Departamento de Bomberos de Fairhaven received funding for a training manikin.
- En Departamento de Bomberos de Fall River received funding for a training manikin.
- En Bomberos de Freetown received funding for a training manikin.
- En Departamento de Bomberos de Lakeville received funding for video laryngoscopes.
- En Cuerpo de Bomberos de Little Compton received funding for a training manikin.
- En Marion Fire Department received funding for video laryngoscopes.
- New Bedford EMS received funding for their Prehospital Blood Transfusion Program.
- En Departamento de Bomberos de Portsmouth received funding for portable ventilators.
- En Departamento de Bomberos de Rochester received funding for their ESO Integration Project.
- En Cuerpo de Ambulancias de Swansea received funding to upgrade to the Zoll X Advanced Defibrillator.
- En Westport Fire Department received funding for video laryngoscopes.
“As a community health system, we see firsthand the essential services these organizations provide to the patients and communities we collectively serve,” said David McCready, President & CEO of Southcoast Health. “Through this program, we are proud to support them in the lifesaving work they do. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with all of our EMS colleagues to improve the health and wellness of our region.”
Southcoast Health is grateful for the strong response to this program. All submitted proposals underwent a comprehensive review and selection process.
To learn more about the Southcoast Health Community Health and Wellness Program, please visit www.southcoast.org/community.
Messages from the EMS Support Grant Recipients
Departamento de Bomberos de Fairhaven
“At a time when municipalities across Massachusetts continue to face reductions in local aid, increasing operational costs, and growing demands for emergency services, the Fairhaven Fire Department remains committed to providing the highest level of emergency medical care to our community. This grant-funded training manikin allows the department to expand advanced, hands-on EMS training opportunities without placing additional financial burden on local taxpayers. By investing in realistic simulation-based training, our firefighter-paramedics and EMTs will be better prepared to deliver critical, life-saving care when Fairhaven residents need it most.
The Fairhaven Fire Department extends its sincere appreciation to Southcoast Health for providing the funding that made this purchase possible. Their continued commitment to supporting emergency medical services and community healthcare helps ensure that our first responders receive the advanced training necessary to deliver the highest standard of patient care to the residents and visitors of Fairhaven.” - Fire Chief Todd Correia, Fairhaven Fire Department
Departamento de Bomberos de Fall River
“The Southcoast Health grant award represents a significant investment in the continued advancement of pre-hospital emergency medical care within the City of Fall River. On behalf of Fall River Emergency Medical Services, we sincerely thank Southcoast Health for its generous grant to purchase an advanced medical training manikin for our department.
This equipment will provide our EMS professionals with enhanced hands-on training opportunities, allowing providers to strengthen critical assessment, treatment, and life-saving intervention skills in realistic training environments. Continued investment in training directly improves the efficiency, preparedness, and overall skill level of our pre-hospital providers, ensuring the community receives the highest quality emergency medical treatment and services possible.
Partnerships such as this demonstrate a shared commitment to public safety and patient care throughout our region. We are grateful for Southcoast Health’s continued support of emergency medical services and their dedication to helping our personnel deliver premier prehospital care to the residents and visitors of Fall River.” - Fall River Fire Department Leadership
Bomberos de Freetown
“On behalf of the Freetown Fire Department, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Southcoast Health for their generous award of a recent grant opportunity we participated in. Through the Southcoast Health EMS grant opportunity we were awarded funds for the purchase of new EMS training equipment. This equipment will be utilized by the paramedics and EMTs of our department to give them an opportunity to train for day-to-day encounters with state-of-the-art equipment.
Without this grant, this equipment would never have been able to be purchased for our members. When Southcoast Health says they are “more than medicine”, they truly mean it and this opportunity speaks volumes to their standard of care. We are grateful for the services they provide to our communities and look forward to our continued partnership long into the future.” - Jefe de Bomberos Harrie Ashley, Departamento de Bomberos de Freetown
Departamento de Bomberos de Lakeville
“We are grateful to Southcoast Health for its continued support of emergency medical services. This grant will allow the Lakeville Fire Department to purchase video laryngoscopes, improving our ability to manage critical airways and deliver life-saving care to patients when every second counts.” - Fire Chief Michael P. O’Brien, Lakeville Fire Department
Cuerpo de Bomberos de Little Compton
“On behalf of the Little Compton Fire Department, I would like to thank Southcoast Health for their very generous donation towards the purchase of an ALS training Manikin. With this purchase the department staff will be able to train and strengthen their skills in various medical emergencies that arise, including airway management, IV skills, and cardiac emergencies. This will ensure that the people of Little Compton and surrounding communities will get the best care possible. Thank you again for your continued support.” - Captain Randall Watt, Little Compton Fire Department
Marion Fire Department
“These devices dramatically improve our ability to manage difficult airways in the field. Seconds matter in an emergency, and the ability to perform safer, more efficient intubations can truly make the difference between life and death. We are grateful to Southcoast Health for investing directly in the health and safety of our community.” - Philip Tura, EMS Coordinator, Marion Fire Department
“This grant strengthens our entire emergency response system. Access to advanced tools like video laryngoscopes ensures our firefighters and paramedics are equipped with the same lifesaving technology found in top hospitals. The community deserves the highest level of care, and this support helps us deliver exactly that.” - Fire Chief Brian Jackvony, Marion Fire Department
New Bedford EMS
“New Bedford Emergency Medical Services would like to thank Southcoast Health for supporting our EMS regional blood truck initiative. Your investment will help improve access to lifesaving blood products in the prehospital setting and strengthen emergency medical response throughout our region
Grant funding will be used to support the acquisition and outfitting of a regional EMS blood transport vehicle, including specialized blood storage and temperature-monitoring equipment, communications technology, and operational supplies. This resource will enhance our ability to deliver blood products rapidly to critically injured patients, improve coordination among regional EMS agencies, and expand access to evidence-based trauma care, ultimately improving patient outcomes across the communities we serve.” - NBEMS Leadership
Departamento de Bomberos de Portsmouth
“The acquisition of a portable ventilator is a significant milestone for the Town of Portsmouth and its surrounding communities. The Portsmouth Fire Department will be able to provide a higher level of care for patients who are critically ill. This marks a noteworthy development in how we, as a department, can manage our patients. We thank Southcoast Health for their contribution to the health and safety of the residents and visitors to the Town of Portsmouth and the surrounding communities.” - Fire Chief Paul Ford, Portsmouth Fire Department
Departamento de Bomberos de Rochester
“This grant represents much more than new technology; it represents an investment in our community and the people we serve every day. Our partnership with Southcoast Health continues to strengthen the connection between prehospital emergency care and hospital-based treatment, ensuring our patients receive the highest level of care from the moment we arrive at their doorstep until they reach definitive medical care. We are sincerely grateful for Southcoast Health’s commitment to supporting our department and helping us better serve the residents of Rochester and the entire South Coast region. Strong partnerships save lives. This investment ensures that our community continues to receive the highest quality emergency medical care when they need it most.” - Captain Kevin Richard, Rochester Fire Department
Cuerpo de Ambulancias de Swansea
“We are incredibly grateful to Southcoast Health for supporting Swansea Ambulance Corps with this grant. These new cardiac monitors will enhance our ability to deliver high-quality emergency care and improve outcomes for the patients we serve every day.” - Mark McGraw, EMT-P/RN, Executive Director, Swansea Ambulance Corps
Westport Fire Department
“Video laryngoscopy represents a significant advancement in airway management capability for our department. The Westport Fire Department currently operates four emergency vehicles equipped to provide advanced life support, all of which would benefit from this technology during intubation procedures.
Video laryngoscopy provides a magnified, well-lit view of the vocal cords, allowing providers to visualize the airway with greater accuracy than traditional direct laryngoscopy. This improved visualization reduces the number of attempts needed to secure an airway, which is directly linked to fewer complications such as hypoxia, airway trauma, and aspiration.
These benefits are especially critical in patients with difficult airway anatomy — including limited neck mobility, obesity, facial trauma, or other anatomical variation — who are notoriously challenging to intubate using direct laryngoscopy alone. Video laryngoscopy gives providers the ability to navigate these airways with greater confidence and precision.
Additionally, many video laryngoscopes can record the procedure in real time, allowing field training officers and medical directors to observe, coach, and review intubation attempts. This capability supports stronger skills maintenance and quality assurance, particularly given that live intubations are performed infrequently in the field.
Investing in video laryngoscopy technology is consistent with our department’s commitment to evidence-based practice, provider safety, and the highest standard of patient care.” - Lieutenant Glenn Nunes, NRP, I/C, Westport Fire Department
