HARWOOD, N.D. (KFGO) – The Harwood Area Fire and Rescue recently received a gift that Battalion Chief Mike Svaleson called a ‘game changer’ for the department.
The company has been supporting the department for years, but last year, Ag Division Vice President Derrik Ellingson, reached out to express their interest in funding a project. After discussing what needs the department has, they decided to fund a Lucas 3 Chest Compression System.
Svaleson said the system can be a lifesaver.
“[The system] gives extremely effective chest compressions throughout CPR, with very minimal effort by our responders,” Svaleson said. “This device also allows members to administer electrical shocks via an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) while it continues giving compressions.”
Svaleson said Ellingson Companies chose the device because they work mainly in rural areas where there aren’t many first responders and it can take a long time for first responders to respond to emergency situations. This type of situation hit close to home for Ellingson Companies a few years ago.
A crew member had a severe medical emergency and another crew member called 911. The crew asked where the ambulance would be coming from and decided to meet them along the way.
When they met the ambulance and sheriff’s deputy, they decided to have the deputy drive the ambulance, so the only medic in the ambulance could tend to the crew member while the sheriff drove to the hospital.
The crew member made it through the ordeal alive, but the response could have used the help of the Lucas 3 Chest Compression System.
“If the ambulance in this instance would have had this device onboard, it without a doubt would have been used,” Svaleson said.
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