Advances in technology often enhance convenience and entertainment.
However, the West Bloomfield Fire Department has recently begun to utilize new advanced technology to save lives.
Fire Capt. Gary Proctor estimated it was about a month-and-a-half ago that the department started using LUCAS — the Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System — which he described as a medical device that does CPR, thereby freeing up medical personnel to focus on other care-giving procedures.
“The LUCAS, I would say, has probably paid dividends already,” Proctor said. “It’s set to do it the way that the science shows it should be done. You just turn it on, and it goes to work for you, and it does, for lack of a better description, perfect CPR. There’s no human error in it.”
The Fire Department has seven LUCAS devices, one for each ambulance.
The devices were purchased as a result of funding received through the CARES Act, a $150 billion coronavirus relief fund that was signed into law in March.