By Shannon Lukens.
Photo: (L to R) Fire Chief Chuck Cerasoli, Yampa Valley Medical Center Foundation (YVMCF) Executive Director Karen Schneider and Firefighter/EMT Quint Friesell show off one of the new automated LUCAS CPR devices deployed in ambulances as a result of grant from Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s Emergency Medical and Trauma Services branch, and the second from the Yampa Valley Medical Center Foundation’s Community Health Benefit Fund.
Two new automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation devices have arrived in Steamboat Springs for Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue. It’s a LUCAS CPR device that helps deliver uninterrupted high-quality chest compressions to adult cardiac arrest patients. It can provide hands-free CPR during transport in an ambulance.
The devices cost about $37,000 and were made possible by two grants. The first from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s Emergency Medical and Trauma Services branch, and the second from the Yampa Valley Medical Center Foundation’s Community Health Benefit Fund. Each unit has been placed in a frontline ambulance to aid with cardiac arrest calls.
LUCAS stands for: Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS). It’s website says it is a, “device provides mechanical chest compressions to patients in cardiac arrest.”
Press release from the City of Steamboat Springs; Feb. 16, 2024.
Automated LUCAS CPR Devices Ensure Beat Never Stops
New Automated CPR Units Obtained Through State & Local Grants
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-February 16, 2024-After having to wait more than a year, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue (SSFR) has deployed two new LUCAS automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices in frontline ambulances providing critical cardiac care to the community.
“CPR can be difficult to do well over a long duration or while in transport,” said Fire Chief Chuck Cerasoli. “The new automatic LUCAS CPR units will never get tired and will always deliver consistent compressions, which is key to a positive outcome.”
The new devices can quickly be applied to adult cardiac arrest patients to deliver uninterrupted high-quality chest compressions that allows emergency care teams like, SSFR, to do what they do best – save lives. The device overcomes caregiver fatigue and allows for hands-free CPR during transport, which allows for treatment of the underlying cause instead of needing to switch CPR providers every two minutes.
The LUCAS device has been shown to improve quality of chest compressions, increase ETCO2 levels as well as being able to sustain life-saving circulation during prolonged resuscitation attempts. In addition to never getting tired, the device increases compression ratios and blood flow to the brain verses manual CPR. The device can be used on scene, during transport and in the hospital.
With these devices, SSFR gains access to valuable metrics that provide a comprehensive view of cardiac arrest cases and help improve training efforts. The device weighs 17.7 pounds and can operate in a wide range of temperatures. The battery allows for 45 minutes of continuous run time, and an external power source can also be plugged in for longer use.
The devices cost around $37,000 and were funded from two grants. The first from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s Emergency Medical and Trauma Services branch, and the second from the Yampa Valley Medical Center Foundation’s Community Health Benefit Fund. Each unit has been placed in a frontline ambulance to aid with cardiac arrest calls.
“We’re fortunate to be able to tap into healthcare programs like these to provide essential lifesaving equipment to our community,” continued Cerasoli. “We can thank CDPHE and YVMCF for their support and commitment to high-quality care.”
LUCAS has more than 25,000 devices deployed around the globe that treat a patient approximately every two minutes.