OCEANA, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Oceana Fire Department announced on Sunday that it will be conducting a car stop in the town of Oceana in order to raise funds for the purchase of a LIFEPAK 15 monitor/defibrillator device.
The car stop event will take place on Saturday, July 16, 2022, and will serve to generate funds for the LIFEPAK 15, which the department referred to as “a crucial need for our department,” in a statement.
“Our EMTs and Paramedics will be able to use the LIFEPAK 15 for cardiac monitoring and transmitting to local hospitals, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, AED, tidal volumes, and so many more things. Most importantly, cardiac monitoring for patients with chest pain or any medical problem that could be cardiac related,” the statement continues.
It is said that the device will greatly enhance the department’s ability to assist in emergency medical situations prior to the arrival of paramedic responders should the need present itself. This point is illustrated through the story of a recent case in which the device could have provided information which would have allowed first responders to implement necessary care much more quickly.
“Just a couple of months ago, we were dispatched to a call where the patient was having extreme chest pain and discomfort. We provided care for the patient until the ambulance arrived approximately 20 minutes later. The ambulance took the patient and had to call for an ALS unit en route to the hospital.”
The statement then describes how responders utilized the device in obtaining a quick, accurate, and potentially life-saving diagnosis for the patient.
“The paramedic used a LIFEPAK 15 to look at the patient’s cardiac rhythm and discovered he was having a STEMI (heart attack.) If we would’ve had a cardiac monitor on scene, this patient would’ve received care for his heart attack much quicker because we could have requested air medical so he could be flown to a hospital for stents. He could’ve been in the hospital within 30-40 minutes instead of 1.5+ hours.”
“As we say in the field, time is muscle. Every minute that goes by, cardiac tissue dies in this situation, so time is crucial. This is just one of the many calls that this device would have been used [on.]”
The department requests that any questions be sent to them directly by message through their Facebook page, which can be found here. The Oceana Fire Department can also be reached by phone at (304) 682-5741.