EL Fire Department purchases life-saving device with grant
Shane Hardin, account manager, Stryker, demonstrates the new Lucas CPR Compression Device to firefighters at the East Liverpool Fire Department. The device was recently purchased with a grant from the Gary Sinese Foundation. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)
Assistant Fire Chief Antony Cumo and Firefighter/EMT Jason Reinke, both of the East Liverpool Fire Department, train on the new LUCAS CPR Compression Device purchase with a grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation to aid firefighters in providing CPR when responded to cardiac arrest calls. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)
Firefighters/EMTs Josh Coil and Alex Estell with the East Liverpool Fire Department practice using the new LUCAS CPR Compression Device purchase with a grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation to aid firefighters in providing CPR when responded to cardiac arrest calls. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)
Shane Hardin, account manager, Stryker, demonstrates the new Lucas CPR Compression Device to firefighters at the East Liverpool Fire Department. The device was recently purchased with a grant from the Gary Sinese Foundation. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)
Assistant Fire Chief Antony Cumo and Firefighter/EMT Jason Reinke, both of the East Liverpool Fire Department, train on the new LUCAS CPR Compression Device purchase with a grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation to aid firefighters in providing CPR when responded to cardiac arrest calls. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)
Firefighters/EMTs Josh Coil and Alex Estell with the East Liverpool Fire Department practice using the new LUCAS CPR Compression Device purchase with a grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation to aid firefighters in providing CPR when responded to cardiac arrest calls. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)
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EAST LIVERPOOL -- East Liverpool firefighters spent Wednesday morning training on a new device purchased with a grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation which could help them increase the odds of survival for a patient in cardiac arrest.
The East Liverpool Fire Department used the grant money to purchase a Lucas CPR Chest Compression Device. That tool administers chest compression during CPR, thus freeing up the hands of firefighters/EMT to rapidly stabalize a patient for transport --eliminating the need to pause CPR efforts to move a patient.
Shane Hardin of Stryker Emergency Care conducted the training on the device. He stressed operating the device was as easy as "ABC-123": activate, back plate and clips, activate the device, slide the back plate under the patient, and clip the Lucas device to the back plate. A suction cup attaches itself to the patient and administers the 2-and-a-half inch compressions.
The device allows for continuous compressions or gives the option for the 30/2 (30 compressions - 2 breaths).
"The simplistic design and the fact that with limited manpower it frees up one guy giving compression that could help with something else," said Firefighter Aaron Jones. "It helps with compression while moving the patient and that's always been a problem when you are doing CPR and you have to move the patient. It's hard to do compression and move the patient but, now with this we can continue compression while moving the patient which will possibly have a greater outcome for the patient."
"I just want to make sure to thank the Gary Sinise Foundation. It was an amazing gift for them to give to us," said Fire Chief Bill Jones. "It not only helps my guys, but it helps the community as well so that they get the effective and proper care that is required of them. As Aaron (Jones) said, you are up and down steps and you can't do CPR going up and down steps."
The chief sees the device as another vital tool in their toolbox to allow the firefighters/EMTs to provide better care to the patients and hopefully increase survival rates for those in cardiac arrest, and a gift to the whole community.
The device cost $20,894.81 and was paid for fully by The Gary Sinise Foundation.
"It didn't cost us a dime, didn't cost the community a dime," Jones said. "No tax dollars were used for that. It was all from that foundation. "
Chief Jones applied for the grant to obtain the device after the East Liverpool Fire Department took over as ambulance service provider for the city.
The device will be placed on the fire truck, so if the ambulance is busy with another call, the truck can respond.
"We have already had instances where the ambulance was on a call and a fire truck went to another call that was a cardiac arrest where you had two guys doing CPR until the ambulance could get there and two other guys could come help them." he said. "That was the start of it. We didn't get it for the ambulance, we got it for the firefighters/EMTs that need help on these cardiac arrest calls."
The chief also said it was more for patient care and for getting someone up or down the stairs in a two to three -tory building. The device will allow continuous CPR compressions while transporting the patient down the stairs. Without the device CPR couldn't be done while moving the patient. This should have a much better outcome for patients.
The chief is currently working on other grants to obtain more equipment for the ambulance.
kgarabrandt@mojonews.com