By Erica Thomas, managing editor
CENTER POINT — The Center Point Fire District and other first responding agencies across the county have new, life-saving equipment thanks to the Jefferson County Commission.
The commission was able to secure funds from the CARES Act and distribute it among municipalities and organizations. The commission purchased 95 LUCAS chest compression systems and 82 Lifepak cardiac monitors for 55 county fire departments. The total cost was $4.1 million.
With the money the CPFD received, Chief Gene Coleman said lives could be saved.
“They will hopefully increase the survivability from cardiac arrest and provide better safety for the first responders in the COVID environment,” said Coleman.
The LUCAS devices perform chest compressions so first responders can keep their distance from patients during the pandemic or perform other life-saving tasks on the patient while CPR is being performed.
Additionally, traditional CPR is difficult and strenuous. The new devices provide consistent CPR, which Coleman said is very important.
“The compressions are of the right depth and the patient is maintaining better circulation with that particular device,” he explained.
The Lifepak cardiac monitors include sensors that calculate levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, body temperature, blood pressure and they include a defibrillator.
The Center Point Fire District received six LUCAS devices and six Lifepaks.
Coleman said crews have already trained on the devices and he hopes to deploy them soon.
