COLUMBIA, Tenn. — The Maury Regional Health Care Foundation approved funding this summer to purchase 10 ultraviolet (UV) cleaning lights for Maury Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Columbia Fire & Rescue in response to needs precipitated by COVID-19.
First responders utilize these handheld, portable lights in response vehicles and living spaces to target viruses, bacteria, mold and spores on surfaces. The tools serve as complements to their already stringent disinfection routines and as an extra barrier of protection against viruses like COVID-19 and influenza. The new lights are now in every 24-hour fire and EMS station in Maury, Lewis and Wayne counties.
“Our team does an outstanding job protecting our community and these lights will help to protect them even further,” said Maury Regional EMS Director Brian Hupp. “We greatly appreciate the support from our community and the Foundation that has made this project possible.”
The purchase of the UV lights was made possible in part by financial support from retired Columbia State Community College professor B.I. Naddy, PhD, and the congregation at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Columbia. The Foundation also provided backing for the project from its COVID-19 Relief Fund, which was developed this spring and has since assisted Maury Regional Health employees financially impacted by the pandemic and funded general COVID-19 relief projects like the UV lights.
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“The Maury Regional Health Care Foundation is focused on continuing our mission of assisting Maury Regional Health in providing excellent health care services to the region during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore. “We are pleased to help provide this important resource for our first responders as they continue to do their life-saving part in keeping our communities safe. I would also like to thank Dr. Naddy and St. Peter’s for their generous contributions to support our first responders.”
Since 2006, the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation has funded nearly $3.4 million in programs and services benefiting community members in need. These programs include the mobile medical unit, medication and transportation assistance, community health initiatives, a food bank for discharged patients in need, educational support, employee assistance and more.
Learn more about the Foundation or make a gift to support its COVID-19 Relief Fund at MauryRegionalFoundation.com.
Photo One (top left): Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) James Bumpus uses one of the new UV lights in the back of a Maury Regional ambulance.
Photo Two: Pictured (l-r) are Maury Regional EMS Director Brian Hupp, EMS Supervisor Jason Griggs, EMS Logistics Manager Dustin Rose, EMS Convalescent Supervisor John Shadix, Dr. B.I. Naddy, Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore and Columbia Fire Chief Ty Cobb outside the Maury Regional EMS station in Columbia. Rose holds one of the new UV lights.