Published: June 19, 2009 11:34 pm      

FSU helps buy protective suits for Frostburg ambulance crews

FROSTBURG — Frostburg State University and the FSU Foundation Inc. have donated a total of $8,000 to pay for the purchase of bloodborne pathogen protective suits for members of the Frostburg Area Ambulance Service. FSU gave $6,000, and the fundation donated $2,000.

The suits, which must be custom-fitted to each volunteer squad member, were purchased in early 2008, and a community fund drive has been ongoing to pay for them and for suits for future volunteers. The state requires these protective suits for emergency personnel, said Wayne Lewis, Frostburg Ambulance president.

The donation from the FSU Foundation put the fund drive over the top on its $50,000 goal, according to Frostburg City Administrator John Kirby.

“Dozens and dozens of businesses and individuals have donated to this drive.” Kirby said, in amounts large and small, the largest being $10,000 from the city of Frostburg. Each suit costs $931.

“FSU is one of the largest potential users of emergency services in the city of Frostburg. Should our faculty, staff and students require the assistance or rescue, we want to be assured that our community volunteers are equipped to protect themselves and our personnel,” said Stephen Spahr, FSU vice president for Economic Development and Government Relations. “This contribution is in direct support of the safety of our university community and our neighbors in the city of Frostburg.”