Owensboro’s Fire Department has been utilizing a new machine to help with CPR compressions and with the intention to provide consistent CPR when resuscitating someone. OFD presented the device to city commissioners during a work session Tuesday afternoon.
The LUCAS 3 Chest Compression System device surrounds the patient’s upper chest and provides the appropriate 2-inch chest compression needed to form a heartbeat and/or regular breathing pattern.
It is used in tandem with a device named I-Gel that is inserted into the patient’s airway to allow easier breathing patterns.
OFD has found both devices provide fewer interruptions when it comes to delivering CPR. Lt. Brad Leonard said that there are about five or 10 interruptions that can happen when someone is being resuscitated, including transporting them to the gurneys and the exhaustion of the responders.
“This device allows for CPR efficiency to go up 80% for the patient,” Leonard said. “So, that is for us is a very important thing because what we found is that we don’t have interrupted CPR anymore.”
Leonard admitted there are limitations with the device. While it can fit patients with wider bodies, it is made for older teenagers and adults. For children, firefighters and EMTs would still have to apply manual CPR.
Currently, there is one LUCAS device located at Fire Station No. 1. Leonard said the hope is to provide each engine with one device, which will make the total five across the city.
The device at Station No. 1 has been used one time since they received it.
Each device is roughly $20,000. OFD is in the process of applying for grants to afford the five. However, Leonard said while the price is $20,000 for each device, “the difference that it can make for a patient is priceless.”
“So, look at the return on the investment and the outcome for patients,” he said. “It’s being able to have consistent compressions, while the hands are free for the responders to do other things to manage the airway.”
