Cardiocerebral Resuscitation

The Swansea Ambulance Corps proudly announces that we are participating in an important health care study to help improve survival rates in patients in cardiac arrest. Currently, about 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest patients die before reaching the hospital, according to the American Heart Association.

Since the 1960's, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) has been the recommended best treatment for these patients. CPR combines chest compressions and rescue breaths which have been said to double or triple patient survival rates. Yet, the total survival rate remains very low.

Important studies have produced initial results of up to a 300% increase in survival rates in patients that receive chest compressions over those that receive CPR. This new treatment is called Cardiocerebral Resuscitation, or CCR

Our Paramedics and EMTs are working closely with the Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services and a local hospital in order to gather important clinical data as part of this study. It is our hope that we will be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of this new technique so that it can be safely implemented in every community nationwide.

More information can be seen in this video:

Lucas "Thumper"

As mentioned above, proper chest compressions are the critical component in patient survival. Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to do constant high quality chest compressions manually for more than a few minutes. Thanks to the generous donations of Swansea residents, we have been able to purchase two Lucas "Thumper" automated chest compression devices.

As you can see in this video news clip, the device attaches easily and performs ideal compressions without intervention. This frees the Medics to perform other procedures and monitor the patient more closely during transportation.