The Clear Lake Fire Dept. has two new tools in their arsenal to help victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
Earlier this year, members of the Clear Lake Lions donated $32,000 to the CLFD for the purchase of two LUCAS 2 compression devices. Monday, a few firefighters as well as a few members of the Lions gathered at the fire station to see the device and understand how it works to save lives.
Firefighter Chad McKay unpacked the device and assembled the unit in a matter of minutes. He explained the apparatus straps around the victim’s chest area and with a push of a button, compressions from the machine’s piston is deployed.
“When the device is deployed, it creates a suction on the victim’s chest,” said McKay. “As the device retracts, this suction helps open up the victim’s chest, allowing the heart to fill with oxygen. This active decompression improves the effectiveness of CPR.”
Most times, first responders can only do chest compressions on a patient for a little less than two minutes or so before being substituted due to fatigue. With the LUCAS device, compressions can continue indefinitely and can also be done while the patient is being transported to an ambulance or down stairs.
“It also helps when we are in confined spaces or in air transport and don’t have a lot of room to perform CPR,” said McKay.
Most, if not all, North air ambulances have LUCAS devices, said Asst. Fire Chief Craig Miller. “But since we are usually the first responders, it’s essential we are equipped with this sort of thing,” he said.
The device runs on batteries than can hold a charge for 45 minutes of use. The CLFD will have plenty of spare batteries on hand, fully charged and ready to go should the need arise.
And so far since they’ve received the units, they haven’t had the chance to use one on an actual cardiac arrest victim.
“If they never have to use the machines, I wouldn’t have a problem with that,” said Lions Member Bill Kiffmeyer — who along with Kevin Goenner, Bob Stamm, Clint Schendzielos and Norm Ashfeld were on hand Monday for the demonstration.
CLFD Chief Ron Koren says his department sees about eight-to-10 cardiac issues a year in their service to the community. He says having two LUCAS devices for the two fire stations will prove vital to their work.
“We are so grateful to the Lions for all they do for our department,” said Koren.
Koren said the Lions have also donated money to his department for the purchase of two thermal imagers (valued at $6,500 each), one extrication kit and airbags used for lifting and/or stabilizing vehicles.
“The Lions have been so generous and understanding that these items are essential for us to do our jobs better,” said Miller. “If we didn’t get the donations, it would have taken years to come up with the money needed to purchase these items.”
Miller, along with fellow Assistant Fire Chiefs McKay and Barry Schuldt, approached the Lions months ago to ask if they’d be kind enough to help with the purchase of one LUCAS device. The Lions saw the huge benefit of the machine and suggested they get two, for both stations.
“It’s nice to have an organization like the Lions who helps us in so many ways,” said Schuldt.
Currently, the CLFD consists of 23 firefighters and Koren and the department is taking applications to get the workforce up to 30 volunteers. All members of the department are trained in both firefighting and emergency medical treatment.
