Rehoboth fire company seeks donations for lifesaving device

The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company is raising funds to purchase an automatic chest compression system that can be used to save the life of someone having a heart attack. The Lucas 3 Device provides high-quality chest compressions and can do the job of multiple providers, thereby avoiding the possibility of one becoming fatigued and lessening the quality of chest compressions being administered.

With traditional CPR, compressions are stopped or paused while carrying the patient from where the incident occurred to the stretcher and to the ambulance. A transport to the emergency room without a Lucas 3 Device required multiple emergency responders in the back of the ambulance due to fatigue and the need to switch providers.

Traditional CPR also requires providers to be standing in the back of a moving ambulance while en route to the emergency room. This is an extremely unsafe environment as the provider administering CPR cannot be safely secured with a seat belt. There is also the risk of the provider falling over the patient in the event of an abrupt movement or sudden stop of the ambulance.

For more information, contact Michael Scheerer, EMS administrator, at 302-227-8400 or mscheerer@rehobothbeachfire.com.