Coshocton County EMS installs chest compression system
COSHOCTON – Coshocton County Emergency Medical Service recently placed our first LUCAS 3, chest compression system into service. The LUCAS chest compression system is a mechanical device that compresses the chest of a patient in cardiac arrest. We were able to purchase this life saving device through a generous donation from the Coshocton Foundation.
If you have performed CPR, either in a training class or on someone in cardiac arrest, you know how physically demanding it is. The current standard is an exhausting 100 compressions per minute and the American Heart Association guidelines recommend switching personnel after every two (2) minutes of chest compressions to avoid fatigue and inadequate compressions. The LUCAS device is able to provide consistent and continuous chest compressions for as long as is needed. It doesn’t get tired. It can be placed on a patient in their home, used throughout transport, and remain on the patient in the hospital.
Current research has shown that using a chest compression system increases the chance of survival for someone who suffers a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. In addition, chest compression systems greatly increase the safety of EMTs because they are no longer required to stand in the back of a moving ambulance and perform compressions as the truck speeds to the hospital.
Our goal is for every Coshocton Co. EMS crew to eventually have one of these devices on their truck, but they are expensive at a cost of approximately $15,000 each. We are extremely thankful to the Coshocton Foundation for purchasing the first unit.
We are pursuing other grant opportunities and have received some donations from local individuals and churches toward the purchase of additional LUCAS devices. Over the next few months, we will be demonstrating the LUCAS device at various events to let folks see how it works.
If you would like to know more about the LUCAS system or see a video of how it works, you can visit the Stryker website at: https://www.strykeremergencycare.com/products/devices/lucas.
Category: People & Places
