The Lorain-Medina People Fund, along with other organizations in the Wellington area, provided funding to the South Lorain County  Ambulance District (SLCAD) to purchase a Lucas® 3 Chest Compression System. 

This high-tech, life-saving gear is designed to help improve the chance of survival for sudden cardiac arrest victims and improve operations for first responders. Performing 102 compressions per minute, the Lucas 3 can be deployed quickly with minimal interruption to patient care. 

“I don’t know if you’ve done CPR on somebody, but it can be pretty tough,” said Ambulance Director David Knapp. “After two minutes, you’re supposed to switch with another person, and that’s not always possible if you’re alone or everyone is busy.”

The unit will continue to provide compressions while moving a victim on stairways or into the ambulance. Otherwise, personnel would likely have to stop compressions temporarily. 

The SLCAD covers the Village of Wellington and the surrounding townships of Brighton, Penfield, Rochester, and Wellington townships, plus Rochester Village. The ambulance district covers approximately 125 square miles with a population of about 10,000 residents.

Robert Holmes, president of the SLCAD board representing Huntington Township, is extremely grateful for the support the ambulance district receives from LMRE and other local organizations. “Their support has allowed us to get this unit much sooner than we had hoped,” Holmes said.