PITTSBURGH, PA (October 6, 2020) City of Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services stations will be outfitted with diesel exhaust systems to protect medics from harmful vehicle fumes.
The overall $1 million in upgrades will be assisted by a $592,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and $446,000 from the City’s capital budget. The funding is being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council today.
Diesel exhaust systems expel diesel fumes from the vehicles to the outside, while the vehicles are running inside the station, making for a safer breathing environment for EMS staff. They are specially designed for Public Safety equipment, so will automatically disengage from the vehicles when they go out for a call.
“This project will help protect the Public Safety's most important asset — its personnel. Ensuring a safe work environment will help provide employees the comfort of knowing that they are not breathing unhealthy exhaust fumes,” Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said.
Fire Bureau stations already have the equipment, so the project will bring EMS in line with Fire. The upgrades are being managed by the Department of Public Works.
The diesel exhaust systems are planned for Rescue 01: 4 systems; Medic 14: 3 systems; Medic 10: 3 systems; Medic 08: 1 system; Medic 06: 4 systems; Medic 04: 4 systems; Medic 03: 2 systems; Medic 02: 4 systems; Medic 01 and 11 (located in the same station): 2 systems; Headquarters: 7 systems; EMS Training: 6 systems.
