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Wayne County approves SCBA purchases and OKs intent to order LUCASTM CPR devices, service plan
Summary
The board approved replacement breathing apparatus for fire stations and authorized intent to order LUCASTM automated CPR devices and renew a protection/maintenance contract for Stryker equipment; staff said many existing units exceed NFPA guidance and parts are no longer available.
Fire Chief Jerry Hefner presented a request to replace largely out‑of‑date self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) across county fire stations, describing operational and safety issues tied to multiple brands and aging cylinders and highlighting that many packs exceed NFPA guidance for end‑of‑life. Hefner said parts for older brands are difficult to obtain and interoperability problems create safety risks on scene.
Hefner presented vendor pricing showing an option for 10 harnesses of “new old stock” at a reduced unit price plus 20 cylinders, masks, batteries and chargers. He estimated the combined purchase amount discussed in the meeting as roughly "just under $88,000," with an additional line‑item cost of about $33,000 for complementary items. Staff said available funds would be split between a special SPLOST line and general fund/department budgets and that funds were available in current‑year and/or 2026 budget lines.
The commission voted to approve the SCBA purchase as presented.
Separately, EMS staff requested authorization to place an order for LUCASTM automated CPR devices ahead of a vendor price increase in October. Staff reported a new quote and a trade‑in from the vendor (Stryker) and asked for a letter of intent to purchase; the board approved the intent to order and noted the equipment will be paid from the 2026 budget when funds are available.
EMS staff also said a protection/maintenance plan that covers Stryker equipment had lapsed during prior staff turnover; they asked to reinstate coverage for the remainder of 2025 at $6,966.64 and to sign the 2026 protection contract at approximately $19,920 to avoid a 5% increase. The board approved the requests and the planned funding approach to use existing line‑item balances.
What’s next: Procurement and finance staff will finalize vendor paperwork, complete required purchases or letters of intent, and track budget accounting across SPLOST and general funds.
