First responders are getting some new equipment thanks to Mercy Hospital.

The hospital donated EKG machines to 18 fire companies who say it's a much needed piece of equipment that they couldn't afford otherwise.

The machines will help the first responders check a patient's heart rhythm and determine whether the person is having a heart attack.

Especially in some rural areas, having that information quickly can mean the difference between life and death. 

”A lot of our calls are even on dirt roads,” said Linda Miller, president of the Canaseraga Fire Company. “We are 25 minutes out to pick up some of our patients. So if we can have a device that can take a sneak peek at the heart tell us what's going on the doctor can report to us and instruct us until ALS can come on board.”

Mercy Hospital is also providing training on how to use the EKG machines.