FARMINGTON (25News Now) – The City of Farmington Volunteer Fire Protection District is seeking assistance to raise enough money to purchase an automated chest compression device that can save lives in medical emergencies.
It’s called the LUCAS device. It costs about $25,000 and can be used on patients in cardiac arrest.
First responders slide a plate under the patient’s back, connect the chest compressor over it, press the power button and the LUCAS device does the rest of the work.
“In the event of cardiac arrest, it delivers chest compressions at a consistent rate and depth; much more consistent and better than manual CPR,” said Fire Chief Matt Watters.
According to Chris Blackwell, director of quality assurance, the Fulton County Emergency Medical Association has been equipped with a LUCAS device in all of its major units since 2016.
The LUCAS device not only compresses the chest to the recommended two to three inches, but also pulls it up, Blackwell said, helping to move blood to the brain. However, the device does not work for people who are too small or too large for the device.
Blackwell says the machine acts like an extra pair of hands, taking the pressure off the paramedic and reducing fatigue among rescue personnel.
“With the staffing situation in the EMS and volunteer emergency services sector being a problem today, it’s really just one extra person we can have there to save lives,” Blackwell said.
Chief Watters said he has applied for a $10,000 grant but hopes the community will cover the remaining $25,000 cost.
Watters said the goal is to raise enough money to equip the ambulance, but it would be a bonus if enough money was raised to purchase two units.
“When we respond to a medical emergency, we wait for the Fulton County ambulance to arrive. That can take up to 15 minutes. If we can put the device on a patient in cardiac arrest 15 minutes before the ambulance arrives, that increases the patient’s chance of survival,” Watters said.
The fire department has set up an account at the Bank of Farmington through which people can donate directly to the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department’s LUCAS equipment donation drive.
The firefighters will also participate in the city’s Italian Festival and Spoon River Drive Festival, with all proceeds going toward the purchase of the machine.
“The well-being of our patients is our top priority and the best thing we can offer them in the event of cardiac arrest is a device like this,” Watters said.
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