SOUTH DEERFIELD — With the help of two grants, South County EMS is able to replace some of its aging equipment with new, modern stretchers, alongside a replacement stair chair.

South County EMS received a $71,428 Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters grant to buy two new Stryker stretchers and an additional $4,679 from CSX Railroad’s Community Service grant program to purchase a stair chair. The agency willuse $3,571 to match the FEMA grant.

Paramedic Laurie McComb, who submitted both grant applications, said South County EMS is still using equipment that predates the agency, which was formed by Deerfield, Sunderland and Whately in 2014.

“South County’s in this funny spot of being an established, well-respected agency, but it’s still feeling the ties to our old individual departments,” McComb said. “All three [stretchers] that we currently have are Deerfield, Whately and Sunderland purchases that came with the start of South County.”

While the stretchers have already arrived in Deerfield, McComb said the stair chair is expected to arrive in a month or so.