Alexandria Fire Department Receives Donation of Mountain Bikes

The Alexandria Fire Department in a Monday ceremony received two mountain bikes equipped with medical kits from sandwich franchise Firehouse Subs.

The department has been using bike medics for several years. Battalion Chief John North said the two new additions to the fleet will be most welcome.

The bikes are helpful at events where there are large crowds such as marathons or festivals "where it can be hard to maneuver a larger vehicle to a patient," North said, adding that bike medics have been instrumental in several cases involving heart attacks.

The bikes are generally equipped with a medical kit, oxygen and a defibrillator.

"It's a great way to get immediate care to an individual," North said.

Since 2005, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has donated $64,100 to public safety entities in Virginia. 

“You never know when you or someone close to you will be personally impacted by the life-saving capabilities of a first responder,” said Dan Lowe, franchisee of the . “These heroes deserve the best tools, training and technology and our foundation is here to help make that happen.”