Normal Fire Department gets new device that could save more lives

Posted on November 25, 2019
The Lucas Device cost $15,000, according to our news partner HOI-ABC. (Photo courtesy HOI-ABC)

 

By HOI-ABC

NORMAL – A pricey device that takes the “arm work” out of CPR might help paramedics in Normal save more lives.

“Our bodies get very exhausted doing that kind of manual labor and that after just a few minutes they’re not as effective between 10 and 30 percent effective on compressions,” Matt Swaney the Normal Fire Department’s Public Information Officer said.

The department recently purchased a Lucas Device a $15,000 machine that pumps people’s blood for them, according to our news partner HOI-ABC.

“It just takes the physical portion of the CPR out of the equation where we can focus on getting IV interventions, getting a patented airway and taking the care of the patient in other ways. The reason why they went into cardiac arrest we can work on that and not exhaust ourselves doing compressions,” Swaney said.

Though it serves a greater purpose than just making the job of first responders somewhat less hectic.

“This machine will continue to pump at the right rate, the right depth, indefinitely and that makes huge changes on patient outcome,” Swaney explained.
The machine — that was paid for by funds the state gets from insurance companies —will go out on very cardiac arrest call the Normal Fire Department receives.
WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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