Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer and Hammond and Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point will share a $52,500 grant provided through a BP Cleaner Air through Diesel Emission Reductions program, in conjunction with a consortium of area environmental groups and South Shore Clean Cities Inc., to help reduce ambulance emissions outside of their emergency departments.
The funds will be used to purchase seven Medidok Idle Reduction Kiosks that plug into ambulances and keep vital systems operating, in lieu of running an engine and emitting potentially harmful fumes, while the vehicle is parked. The funds will be matched by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management Dieselwise program, to complete the installation process.
The hospitals’ emergency departments combined receive some 21,000 ambulance drop-offs annually. The devices are expected to save 1,700 gallons of fuel during that time.
The hospitals were among a number of Lake County agencies to receive grants during a program Jan. 22 at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond.
Shown (from left) receiving a check are Lauren Hansen, Franciscan St. Margaret Health emergency medical services and emergency preparedness coordinator; Tom Keilman, representing BP; Tony Englert, Franciscan Alliance Foundation executive director; Steve Francis, of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter; Lori Postma, R.N., Franciscan Healthcare-Munster emergency preparedness coordinator; and Carl Lisek, South Shore Clean Cities executive director. In the background is Deb Backus, South Shore Clean Cities project manager, who introduced the recipients and presented details of the awards.