Last year at this time, the Addison Township Fire Department had no chest compression machines in its arsenal of lifesaving equipment.
Now, the rural agency has two.
The fire department recently received its second Auto Pulse, a machine that performs consistent and highly-effective chest compressions on patients as part of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
It basically replaces the need to have fire personnel perform compressions manually.
Addison was able to obtain its second machine thanks to a $15,680 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program.
‘There’s no way we could have come up with that kind of money on our own (so quickly),? explained Assistant Fire Chief John Beach.
He estimated it probably would have taken the department ‘four or five years? to save enough funds to buy the machine. To Beach, waiting so long wasn’t a good option because during that time, they might have lost patients who could have otherwise been saved with the assistance of an Auto Pulse unit.
Being able to deliver effective chest compressions keeps blood flowing through the body, which in turn, helps keep the brain and heart alive.
‘It gives our residents a better chance of survival,? Beach said. ‘That’s really the big benefit.?
Utilizing a band that wraps around the chest cavity, the Auto Pulse machine can deliver chest compressions at a depth and rate that’s actually more consistent and effective than the manual efforts of emergency personnel.
Unlike people, the machine doesn’t get tired. Studies show that after 2 minutes of doing compressions, rescuers can suffer from fatigue and become less effective.
The Auto Pulse will also enable firefighters to keep patients? blood circulating during lengthy ambulance trips.
Addison’s average transport to the hospital takes between 20 and 30 minutes (one way) due to the township’s distance from the nearest one.
Addison was able to obtain its first Auto Pulse unit last fall by combining funds from the department budget with a $5,000 grant from the Almont-based Four County Community Foundation and a $2,500 donation from the Wisconsin-based Precision Pipeline.
Fire Chief Jerry Morawski explained the agency needed two machines so when one is being utilized during a medical run, which usually lasts about an hour given travel time to and from the hospital, there’s a second one ‘ready to go? for another call.
‘Residents will continue to have the same service,? he said.