Picture the scene: a man drops to the floor at work, convulsing, with a severe heart attack. Co-workers check for vital signs. There is no breathing or pulse.
The man is close to death, even closer to permanent disability. The brain can be damaged by a lack of oxygen in four minutes. The damage may be irreversible after seven minutes.
The scene is chaotic and stressful. Someone calls 911 and within minutes the first responders arrive.
One of the first things they do is use a battery-operated Lucas chest compression system, which sits astride the patient’s chest and delivers uninterrupted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
With the simple touch of a button, a suction cup and pressure pad are activated to provide steady compressions. Every 30 seconds the device pauses for two seconds, before pushing on the chest again and restoring oxygen to the brain.
Meanwhile, the paramedics concentrate on other vital tasks like ventilation, defibrillation and administering medication.
The patient begins to recover and is taken by ambulance to hospital.
Welcome to modern CPR. Welcome to the latest lifesaving device bought for $12,500 by Barrhead Ambulance Service.
Trevor Trefanenko, director of ambulance services for the town, said the acquisition followed a fundraising campaign that started in May.
Donations received this year came from: Barrhead Chamber of Commerce ($1,000); Rural Crime Watch ($500); IGA barbeque on May 21, 2011 ($1,000); IGA Smart Shoppers cards ($1,000); and Barrhead Grizzly Trail Fire and Rescue Association ($9,000).
“I would like to thank all those whose fundraising efforts demonstrated once again the great community spirit that embraces Barrhead,” said Trefanenko. “Purchasing this equipment will be of benefit to the citizens of the town.”
Fire Services captain Michael Botros, a member of the grizzly trail fire and rescue association, was also delighted.
It was going to make the job of emergency medical technicians and firefighters easier, he said.
“This will benefit the citizens of Barrhead,” he added.
The ambulance service acquired the Lucas device at the end of Oct. after demonstrations proved its efficiency. The price tag was $2,500 lower than anticipated.
Trefanenko said one of its biggest advantages was that it freed up attendants to do other lifesaving work such as controlling airways, delivering medication and preparing the patient for ambulance transport.
“Performing manual CPR is very tough and demanding. It is exhausting,” he said, adding that it often required attendants to rotate the duty every couple of minutes.
Studies show that the effectiveness of pushing on a bony chest plate 100 times a minute to a depth of two inches can drop rapidly – often after only a minute – because of fatigue.
Machine-operated compressions, however, helped reduce rescuer fatigue, said Trefanenko.
“The machine is comfortable and delivers efficient CPR without ever getting tired. It was well worth purchasing it for a seniors community like Barrhead.”
Some 60 per cent of the calls Trefanenko and his crew deal with are people who are over 65 and in cardiac arrest.
Trefanenko said the Lucas device was also critical during transportation of a patient to hospital.
There is often an element of danger for EMTs while performing CPR in the back of a moving ambulance, unrestrained by seat belts as the driver dodges the unpredictable moves of other motorists, he explained.
The machine, however, moved with the patient from the emergency scene to the ambulance, allowing rescuers to be seat-belted.
Trefanenko also said a sleek, padded backpack made the Lucas device easy to carry and convenient to store.
“It only weighs about 20lbs and can be carried over the shoulder,” he said. “It is also very easy to operate.”
Originally, Trefanenko had wanted to buy two Lucas systems, but he has now scaled back his ambition.
“I would love the town to have two, but one will be sufficient,” he said.
