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Item 1.H.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 12/08/2025 |
| Title: | Acceptance of First Interstate Bank Grant |
| Presented by: | Matt Hoppel, Fire Chief |
| Department: | Fire |
| Presentation: | No |
| Legal Review: | Not Applicable |
| Project Number: | N/A |
RECOMMENDATION
Approve acceptance of grant funds.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The Billings Fire Department applied for and was awarded a $2,500 grant from First Interstate Bank to support the purchase of an additional ZOLL AutoPulse® CPR device. This acquisition will enhance operational readiness by ensuring a backup unit is available when existing devices are undergoing maintenance, repair, or already deployed in the field.
The ZOLL AutoPulse® Resuscitation System is an advanced, mechanical CPR device designed to deliver high-quality, uninterrupted chest compressions during cardiac arrest emergencies. Its integration into our emergency response capabilities supports the departments commitment to implementing cutting-edge, evidence-based cardiac care practices.
As the largest full-service fire and emergency medical services (EMS) provider in Montana, the Billings Fire Department delivers advanced life support (ALS) throughout the community and responds to more than 100 cardiac arrest incidents annually. Effective CPR is critical to survival and must meet American Heart Association (AHA) standards, 100-120 compressions per minute at a depth of 2 inches with minimal interruptions. While all Billings firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics are highly trained in manual CPR, achieving this level of consistency can be challenging in dynamic emergency environments, especially during transport, patient movement, or when scene conditions limit provider effectiveness.
The AutoPulse mitigates these challenges by delivering continuous, guideline-compliant compressions without interruption or variation due to rescuer fatigue or movement.
The Billings Fire Department began implementing AutoPulse devices as part of the Medical Response Team (MRT) program. In 2024, the department responded to 126 reported CPR-related EMS incidents. Of those, 14 patients achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and 6 were discharged from hospital care with good functional status. This outcome represents a success rate 42%. This is significantly higher than the national average for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival to discharge, which is approximately 9.1% in the United States for adult EMS-treated non-traumatic cardiac arrests per the latest data from the American Heart Association. “Good functional status” refers to an individual’s ability to independently perform activities of daily living necessary to meet basic needs and maintain health and well-being.
The ZOLL AutoPulse® Resuscitation System is an advanced, mechanical CPR device designed to deliver high-quality, uninterrupted chest compressions during cardiac arrest emergencies. Its integration into our emergency response capabilities supports the departments commitment to implementing cutting-edge, evidence-based cardiac care practices.
As the largest full-service fire and emergency medical services (EMS) provider in Montana, the Billings Fire Department delivers advanced life support (ALS) throughout the community and responds to more than 100 cardiac arrest incidents annually. Effective CPR is critical to survival and must meet American Heart Association (AHA) standards, 100-120 compressions per minute at a depth of 2 inches with minimal interruptions. While all Billings firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics are highly trained in manual CPR, achieving this level of consistency can be challenging in dynamic emergency environments, especially during transport, patient movement, or when scene conditions limit provider effectiveness.
The AutoPulse mitigates these challenges by delivering continuous, guideline-compliant compressions without interruption or variation due to rescuer fatigue or movement.
The Billings Fire Department began implementing AutoPulse devices as part of the Medical Response Team (MRT) program. In 2024, the department responded to 126 reported CPR-related EMS incidents. Of those, 14 patients achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and 6 were discharged from hospital care with good functional status. This outcome represents a success rate 42%. This is significantly higher than the national average for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival to discharge, which is approximately 9.1% in the United States for adult EMS-treated non-traumatic cardiac arrests per the latest data from the American Heart Association. “Good functional status” refers to an individual’s ability to independently perform activities of daily living necessary to meet basic needs and maintain health and well-being.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve; or,
- Not Approve
FISCAL EFFECTS
Thanks to their contribution, the Billings Fire Department will be better equipped to sustain life-saving cardiac arrest interventions and continue leading the region in advanced pre-hospital care.