Modern life-saving devices coming to the Central Valley with $25K grant

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The Sierra Kings Health Care District is awarding a $25,000 grant to the Sequoia Safety Council. The money will go to purchasing two life-saving chest compression devices.

The Lifeline ARM compression device is a special technology that mimics the act of CPR.

“These devices will help paramedics in the field do consistent chest compressions during cardiac arrest while they transport patients to the hospital,” General manager for The Sequoia Safety Council, Russ Richardson said.

The devices typically run around $15,000.

Richardson says the department is grateful to finally have access to such technology.

“For a rural agency, the cost of these devices is astronomical. So, it’s typically something we would love to have, but we don’t have the budget for,” he said.

Which is where the Sierra Kings Health Care District steps in.

“We’re trying to bring the best, most cutting-edge quality enhancements to the area, and this is just one example of that,” CEO of the Sierra Kings Health Care District, Chinayera Black Hardman said.

She says that this particular grant stood out from the agency’s normal focus area, but she pushed for funding anyway.

“I took it to my board and said it’s not necessarily consistent with our three priority areas, but it’s important to the community,” said Hardman.

The Sequoia Safety Council covers a large geographic area. Oftentimes, response times can be up to an hour, with transport time to the hospital being just as long.

While in the field, paramedics alternate performing CPR on a patient in two-minute intervals.

A task Richardson says can be taxing.

“They have to stop whatever task they’re doing and be prepared to take over and CPR because the biggest thing is you don’t want to interrupt the chest compressions,” Richardson said.

The ARM device helps alleviate the paramedic staff and offers more consistent compressions, providing more efficient care to the community.

Due to manufacturing upgrades, the devices are expected to arrive at the station in about two months.

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