HOISINGTON — Hoisington Emergency Medical Services has received a grant for $34,805 to purchase a new Zoll E Defibrillator.

The money is from the Kansas Board of EMS and was applied for by current EMS Director Brent Rouse. He expects the department to receive the defibrillator in late July or early August.

Rouse estimated that the old defibrillator was 10 years old, with no further upgrades available.

The new defibrillator will monitor heart rates and when CPR is performed, will give feedback whether CPR is being administered properly and whether the compression are too hard or not hard enough. The screen can be read in darkness or direct sunlight.

"There are more accessories to diagnose different problems," Rouse said. The new defibrillator will be an updated version of what the department currently has.

"It was definitely needed," Rouse said. He is pleased that the department received the grant due to the cost of the equipment. "It’s a real important piece of equipment to upgrade.

"It will let us know the rhythm of the heart," he said. Paramedics can then choose the correct medication for the problem.

Rouse explained that to become a paramedic, one must take a 5-6 month EMT course and then get an associates in applied science. They then take a national test.