Lives will be saved by mechanical

CPR devices in all ambulances

Lives will be saved as NSW becomes the first state in the country to install state-of-the-art mechanical cardio-pulmonary resuscitation devices in all frontline ambulance units, including the Central Coast.

24 May 2023

 

HEALTH Minister Ryan Park said more than 1,000 ‘LUCAS’ devices, which deliver automated, consistent compressions to a patient’s chest, have been installed in every NSW Ambulance Sprinter vehicle across the state.

 

“Losing a loved one to a sudden cardiac arrest is devastating, and the NSW Government is committed to giving front line paramedics the resources they need to have the best chance at saving a life,” Mr Park said.

 

“NSW Ambulance is the first in the country to have life-saving LUCAS devices in every frontline ambulance vehicle, allowing our paramedics to deliver life-saving care from the moment they arrive at the scene to the moment they arrive at hospital.

 

“This investment means every patient, no matter where they are in the state, now has access to life-saving technology when they need it the most.”

 

Mr Park said the devices have been rolled out following a successful two-year study involving 1300 paramedics, as well as doctors and nurses from 15 hospitals across Sydney and Wollongong.

 

“Simply put, having the LUCAS machines in ambulances will save lives,” Mr Park said.

 

“Each year we know more than 8,500 people across NSW experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, yet only about one in 10 survive.

 

“For every minute that a patient is in cardiac arrest and not receiving effective CPR or defibrillation their chance of survival drops by 10 per cent.”

 

The Lucas CPR device will provide the community comfort in knowing paramedics can deliver state of the art emergency care.

 

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan said the devices will support paramedics to deliver lifesaving treatment until they reach hospital.

 

“These devices free-up paramedics so they can concentrate on administering other life-saving treatment for the patient,” Dr Morgan said.

 

“Putting these machines in ambulances means fewer families will have to suffer the heartbreak of losing a loved one to cardiac arrest.”