A posthumous donation left to the Portsmouth Fire Department may just save someone's life one day. 

Jules Buela Jr., formerly of Portsmouth, died July 12, 2011. The Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department, which was named in Buela’s will, received $70,000 from his estate. 

Portsmouth firefighters had responded to the Buela residence on several occasions over the years; providing care to both Buela and his wife, Julie, who died on May 2, 1996.

The $70,000 left to the fire department was used to purchase two new and much-needed cardiac monitors for the ambulances.

These devices provide much more than just basic cardiac monitoring, according to the fire department. 

The following is a list of the functions the machines provide: cardiac pacing, synchronized electrical cardioversion, interpretative 12- Lead ECG, blood pressure measurement, carbon dioxide production, blood oxygen saturation measurement and temperature monitoring. 

Another significant aspect of this purchase was the way in which the monitors were purchased. This particular device is in demand; the sales representative provided our department with a list of the potential customers. 

These customers came together to form a group purchasing organization. The following departments made up this organization: Cumberland, Lincoln, Smithfield, Portsmouth, South Kingstown and Blackstone, MA, Fire Departments. 

Due to the purchasing power of the group, the Portsmouth Fire Department saved more than $18,000.

The Portsmouth Fire Department was also able to trade two of the department’s oldest cardiac monitors for $10,000.

During the next few weeks, firefighters will receive in-service training on the devices and the monitors will be put into service.