In an effort to continue to further professionalize the operations of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and to equip ambulances and expand the level of care in the area of Advance Cardiac Life Support, the Department of EMS has purchased two (2) Auto Pulse equipment that are made by ZOLL Medical Corporation.
The Auto Pulse is an automated, portable device with an easy-to-use, load-distributing Life Band that squeezes the entire chest, improving blood flow to the heart and brain during sudden cardiac arrest.
It has been documented and proven through case studies that this device delivers high-quality, uninterrupted chest compressions to maintain myocardial and cerebral perfusion even when moving patients, and/or traveling in an ambulance.
Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever said: "When every second counts it is important we have the right equipment and trained staff to administer emergency care in order for them to save our lives."
Pelegrina Equipment Corp in Puerto Rico is the official representative for Zoll in the Caribbean and Norberto Rodriquez will be conducting training for the operational staff of the Ambulance Department on April 10th – April 11th 2013 including practical training with the use of this innovative and vital equipment.
This piece of equipment cost US$ 15,950,00 each. The training will take place at the Ambulance Department headquarters at the Fire & Ambulance Building located at Jackal Road # 5 in Cay Hill.
It has also been proven that the device may offer a significant advantage over manual CPR, moving blood more consistently than human providers. It also offers the benefit of freeing up the ambulance nurse to focus on other life-saving interventions while keeping both patients and themselves safe in the back of a moving ambulance.
Furthermore, an abrupt disruption of the heart’s function which causes a lack of blood flow to vital organs claims many lives (-/+ 325.000 lives) each year in the United States of America and is the leading cause of unexpected death that strikes without warning. Therefore improvement in resuscitation practices such as is the case with Auto Pulse could save as many as half of these lives.
The revolutionary ZOLL Auto Pulse provides a better choice for top-quality CPR on the move and therefore is the only device of its kind that is a non-invasive cardiac support pump that moves more blood, more consistently than is possible with human hands.
This device sets a new standard of care for effective and easy-to-use non-invasive cardiac support during resuscitation. It even delivers excellent and consistent blood flow during all patient movement operations, even when ambulance teams are going down stairs, rushing to and from the ambulance or navigating traffic at high speeds.
This investment would be an added value and will certainly enhance and bring the level of care to a much higher standard and ambulances would be fully equipped to deal or handle any type of emergency situation in the pre-hospital care setting.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever