Algonquin-Lake in
the Hills Fire Protection District
1020 West Algonquin Road, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
Incident
Press Release
For Immediate Release
November 27, 2018
Contact: John
Knebl, Battalion Chief
847-658-8233
Headquarters
847-854-2609 Fax
Special Announcement
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District is
proud to announce that we are taking another step forward in providing the best
care to our residents. With constant changes in the medical field and a need to
stay current with delivering the vital care needed during a cardiac event, the
Fire District applied for and received a grant through the Assistance to
Firefighter Grant Program to purchase four Automated CPR Devices. This has
allowed the District to outfit each of our ambulances with this lifesaving
equipment.
Research has repeatedly demonstrated that precisely executed
and uninterrupted chest compressions greatly improve a patient’s chances for a
successful outcome. Manually performing
chest compressions can be difficult in many situations, even for trained first
responders. The Automated CPR Devices deliver uninterrupted compressions at a
consistent rate as recommended by the American Heart Association. Once applied, compressions are consistent and
continuous even during patient movement from incident to ambulance to hospital
bed. The device, which is designed to
fit around a person's chest, uses a piston to perform the chest compressions
more accurately and consistently than any person could do. In addition, use of the device frees up a
paramedic to do other critical tasks at the incident.
These devices do not replace the need for manual CPR being
performed by a bystander prior to the arrival of paramedics. CPR must begin immediately in a cardiac
arrest event. The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District offers
American Heart Association CPR training classes and encourages our residents to
learn this potentially life-saving technique. The class schedule can be found
at: http://www.alfpd.org/2173/CPR-Classes
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