COLUMBUS, OHIO (July 17, 2000) -- The Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the State Board of Emergency Medical Services announced today that they recently awarded $4.9 million in EMS grants to local EMS providers.

Trauma is the leading cause of death in people between the ages of one and 40. There are over one million EMS runs in Ohio each year and over 36,000 First Responders, EMTs, and Paramedics.

"EMS squads make an incredible difference in our communities and ensure our health, protection and physical well-being in countless ways," said Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor, Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. "By providing these agencies with the funding necessary for training and equipment, we are helping to save lives and reduce injury in Ohio, which is the ultimate goal of the Ohio Department of Public Safety."

"The purpose of the grants is to improve Emergency Medical Services in Ohio by providing monetary

resources to assist organizations in providing training for their personnel, purchasing equipment and improving the availability, accessibility and quality of care," said Ray Walendzak, Chairman of the State Board of EMS. All EMS organizations established or operated by a township, village, city or county within Ohio, as well as all non-profit EMS organizations that have primary responsibility for emergency medical response and all private, for-profit ambulance services that provide EMS services are eligible to receive funding.

A total of 603 EMS agencies will be receiving the funding which is provided entirely from seat belt fines