Excerpts from cbsnews.com:

New technology will help the Chicago Fire Department give a drowning victim a better chance of survival.

Firefighters showed off the AutoPulse Tuesday morning at Burnham Harbor.  It automatically sizes to the patient’s chest, then performs CPR, squeezing to keep the blood flowing. This means firefighters can work on airway issues. 

Assistant Deputy Commissioner of EMS Juan Hernandez said  that someone who is a drowning victim has been deprived of oxygen to brain and heart. Once they are out of the water and on a boat,  firefighters will start effective CPR. This device  then begins effective CPR and this gives patients the best chance for survivability.

The AutoPulse is also helpful in small spaces like a boat and will keep providing CPR while a patient is being moved on a boat, down stairs or into an ambulance.

A grant paid for the units, which will be on fire rescue boats at the start of the season.

Tags: ,