The Slatedale Ambulance Corps has a new piece of life saving equipment, thanks to The Prudential Helping Hands Program.

The local corps was honored recently by the Prudential Insurance Company of America for purchasing a portable cardiac defibrillator through the insurance company’s program, a matching grants initiative to help volunteer rescue squads purchase the machines.

Joe Babyak of Prudential said the program makes $2,500 grants available to volunteer EMS squads to cover half of the cost of the equipment.

The Slatedale unit is one of 82 volunteer squads in Pennsylvania to accept the Helping Hands grant in 1995-96.