Skamania EMS and Rescue has integrated two cardiopulmonary assist devices into our system with funding from a generous donation. These “LUCAS” devices are electronically powered systems that deliver chest compressions and active decompression on the patient during a cardiac arrest.
Since 1960, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) has been the standard of care for individuals that have a cardiac arrest, followed by early defibrillation with an AED (automatic external defibrillator). These techniques remain the industry standard of care. But when traveling in the back of a moving vehicle, as we do, delivering high-quality chest compressions can be difficult and decreases responder safety. The LUCAS device provides consistent chest compressions as well as technology that moves the chest upwards to its normal anatomical position, effectively providing ventilation and circulation.
The LUCAS device has been proven to increase the chances of survival from cardiac arrest and decreases the injuries sustained to patients from traditional chest compressions. Adding this technology could help return someone’s heart to self-circulation and assist our providers in getting them to definitive care facilities quicker.
