Hansen Family Hospital in Iowa Falls recently announced the purchased of a LUCAS (Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System) device for emergency services through a donation from the hospital foundation board.
Brittanee Deeringer is the ER Nurse Lead and Trauma Coordinator at Hansen Family Hospital and tells RadioOnTheGo News about this mechanical chest compression system designed for effective CPR.
“LUCAS device is a machine that is placed on the patient to provide consistent chest compressions during CPR or cardiovascular emergency. We like to see CPR between 100 and 120 compressions per minute. This takes away the fatigue and potential injury and provides more consistency for our patients.”
Deeringer says there are many benefits of having a LUCAS device during a cardiac event, as it allows emergency personnel to be hands-free from doing chest compressions while responding to an emergency call.
“It allows us to respond with fewer personnel if needed to provide those medications that are given during those events. This pretty much eliminates two people from a cardiac emergency. Prior to that, with hands-on CPR, you’re rotating after every about two, two and a half minutes. So if you think about chest compressions, like a roller coaster, ultimate chest compressions are the top of the hill, and you have to work up to that top of the hill when you’re using manual CPR. But when you’re using the device, stays consistent on the top of the hill so you’re not losing that progression that you’ve had previously.”
You can learn more about the Hansen Family Hospital Foundation Board and the LUCAS device here.
Pictured is HFH ER Nurse Lead and Trauma Coordinator, Brittanee Deeringer, with the LUCAS device
