Buffalo Hospital launches campaign to support new CPR technology
BUFFALO, Minn. 11/16/2007-- Buffalo Hospital Foundation is launching a telephone fundraising campaign on November 26th to support the Emergency Center at Buffalo Hospital. Dollars raised from this campaign will allow Buffalo Hospital to purchase the latest in life-saving cardiac technology.
The LUCAS Chest Compression System is an advanced resuscitation technology designed to perform external chest compressions on adults. It has been in use in certain European countries for the last few years with great success, and the FDA has recently approved the device for use in the United States. Buffalo Hospital will be one of the first in the nation to have one of these devices in their Emergency Department and Allina Medical Transportation is also putting several of these devices in their rigs.
"Allina has already taken the lead not only locally, but nationally in cardiac arrest resuscitation with our various programs including the Heart Safe Communities initiative which places Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in community settings," says Charlie Lick, MD, medical director of Buffalo Hospital's Emergency Department and Allina Medical Transportation. "Our communities see a 14 percent average survival rate from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) verses the five percent national average. The LUCAS device is just the next step in improving survival rates."
The LUCAS system replaces manual chest compressions that are an integral part of the traditional CPR procedure. Not only is the manual process itself physically strenuous, it must be done immediately and without interruption so that oxygenated blood flows consistently to vital organs like the heart and the brain. The LUCAS device is placed around the chest of a patient immediately and can perform 100 compressions per minute with a depth of 2 inches.
Buffalo Hospital Foundation is a catalyst for innovative services and facilities to improve community health. Established in 2003, this young foundation has already made a difference in the people's lives by offering programs like Heart Safe Communities and the DAAN initiative that provides education and services that foster wise nutrition and activity choices in the school, workplace and community settings. Through community donations, the foundation has also been able to make hospital improvements including the Family-Centered Care Room that offers extra amenities for families caring for elderly parents and small children.
We hope that community members will consider giving to one of the many life-touching programs and initiatives offered at the Buffalo Hospital. Questions regarding foundation projects can be directed to foundation director Chris LeDuc at 763-684-6808.
About Buffalo Hospital
Part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Buffalo Hospital is a not-for-profit regional medical center committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves in and around Wright County. Information about Buffalo Hospital's services, along with the latest health information, can be found online at www.buffalohospital.org .
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Related Links
Buffalo Hospital: Emergency care
Buffalo Hospital Foundation
News release: Buffalo Hospital first in Minnesota to use new automated CPR device
CPR: Cardio pulmonary resuscitation
Emergency medicine specialists
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