BELLAIRE — The Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department has purchased nearly $10,000 in automated external defibrillators and CPR training equipment through grant funding to benefit the community.

Bellaire Fire Chief Josh McMahon said the department secured the $9,845.22 grant through Gulfport Energy in October. The funding allowed the fire department to purchase three AEDs for the baseball and softball fields in the village along with CPR and AED training equipment so the department can hold training courses for the public.

“The grant through Gulfport Energy is to benefit the village of Bellaire, Bellaire Junior Sports and Bellaire Girls Softball Association,” McMahon said.

“It (grant funds) got us all the equipment we needed for first aid and CPR training.”

McMahon said the department was able to purchase three complete AED kits that will be housed at the village’s baseball and softball fields. Two of the AEDs will go to the Bellaire Junior Sports and the third will go to the Bellaire Girl’s Softball Association.

“That was the big thing with this whole grant was getting the AEDs. They didn’t have any (AEDs) and they need them,” he said.

McMahon presented Bellaire Assistant Police Chief JJ Watson, who is involved with the Bellaire Girls Softball Association, an AED kit Thursday that will be housed at the softball field.

Having the AED kits on hand could help save lives, McMahon explained.

“A big thing with baseball is that they can get struck in the chest and can go into cardiac arrest. With AEDs the quicker, the better,” he said.

The fire chief said having all of the newly purchased equipment is a huge benefit to the village.

“It’s a huge benefit for personal safety,” he said. “The AEDs are the main push for this, but with that you need additional training.You can’t just use the AED, you also need to administer CPR. So with that, included in the grant is the training for all the coaches for both associations. That way we will have an AED on site and at least one person will be CPR first aid certified.”

McMahon said the department is grateful for the funding opportunity through Gulfport energy.

“A huge thank you to Gulfport Energy and all of the citizens of the village of Bellaire for all their continued support,” he said.

With the training equipment now in hand, McMahon hopes to soon conduct CPR training courses for the baseball and softball association’s coaches and also for members of the public. The classes will be held at the fire department in Bellaire.

Anyone interested in attending one of the department’s CPR training classes may contact the fire department at 740-325-1848 or the village municipal building at 740-676-6539.