RCFD looking to purchase 12 new Lucas devices to improve cardiac care

The Rapid City Fire Department is looking to upgrade its EMT care that will add efficiency and accessibility with this new equipment.

The department is looking to purchase 12 brand new Lucas devices as they are down to 7 older models.

“The Lucas device brings us a couple of really nice parts to it. It brings us consistency is the biggest thing. With high-quality CPR, it’s all about depth of the compression, number of compressions per minute, getting full recoil on the chest and it’s also about developing coronary perfusion pressure. Which helps us get blood to the brain and other organs in our body,” RCFD EMS Division Chief Brent Long said.

These devices will be purchased using the department’s Wildland Funds they earn from assisting in wildfires in the area and across the country.

The importance of this purchase is that not every unit has their own cardiac equipment and if they are in a situation where they are needing this equipment, they have to call in another unit to bring it to them. With this purchase, every vehicle will have their own equipment.

These devices will help with patient outcomes as they are around 60% more effective in chest compressions than individuals doing them on their own.

“Especially when we are in transport, we want to make sure that everybody, especially the patient, is kept safe at all times. If you can imagine, doing CPR on the ground is one thing, but then having to do it in a moving ambulance and trying to keep your balance and not cause any other issues, having a device like this makes it definitely safer and more consistent,” Long said.

The Rapid City Fire Department is looking to purchase these new additions soon to continue their critical care in the community.