Petrolia EMTs use technology to save lives
PETROLIA — Ask any rural EMT: The ride to Butler Memorial Hospital can be long and grueling — especially while doing chest compressions.
"It's physically exhausting," said Leslie Larimore, 43, commander of the Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department.
The department covers a 120-mile area, and Larimore estimates having done CPR for as long as 48 minutes while en route.
After attending the annual Pittsburgh Fire, Rescue and EMS Expo last October, Larimore solved the problem. She purchased two electric CPR machines called Lucas Chest Compression Systems, designed to do perfect compressions for as long as needed.
The machines feature a suction cup that can be placed in a precise location on the patient's chest. The cup is attached to a bellows that drives the mechanism to do the compressions.
"It's always consistent. It's always in the same spot," said assistant commander Eric Pint, noting manual CPR is less precise, especially while in motion.
"Going down the road, you're going to move and sway with the truck," said Pint, 38.
As well as improving accuracy, emergency responders say the device helps sustain CPR in cases of limited staff.
"If you're lucky you'll leave with a driver and two other people," said Larimore, noting the American Heart Association guidelines suggest responders alternate at 2-minute intervals to avoid fatigue and loss of CPR quality.
The guidelines were updated in 2005 to also double the number of chest compressions to 30 per two rescue breaths, eight to 10 of which are necessary per minute. Larimore said the Lucas can be programmed to do continuous compressions at the rate of 100 per minute or to do 30 and pause, allowing time for rescue breathing.
While undergoing CPR with the Lucas, patients simultaneously can be on a heart monitor, hooked up to an IV or be receiving other forms of treatment.
Ray Carlin, a sales representative for Washington-based Physio Controls, which distributes the Swedish product, said the automatic CPR technology has been present for some years in the industry, but resurged after 2005, when the AHA guidelines were modified to call for more compressions.
The electric model of the Lucas follows previous pneumatic versions, he said.
But the technology has a price: Petrolia spent more than $28,000 on both machines combined, with $5,265 in state grant money offsetting those costs. The out-of-pocket portion was covered by funds from the VFD's annual subscription drive.
Larimore said the Petrolia VFD has used the Lucas twice since completing training in late December. Both patients arrived at the hospital alive.
Made up of 18 certified EMTs and 10 paid paramedics, Petrolia VFD serves Petrolia, Bruin, Washington Township, parts of Parker Township and Fairview Township and parts of Perry Township, Armstrong County. Larimore said her cardiac arrest call volume totals 10 or 15 calls each year.
