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New Machine Helps Teaneck Ambulance Corps Save Heart Attack Victim, 34

TEANECK, N.J. -- A 34-year-old heart attack victim in a Teaneck CVS was revived by EMTs with the help of a new machine.

Physio-Control LUCAS 2 Chest Compression System demo

Photo Credit: AEDAuthorityCanada

After applying a defibrillator to the victim at the Cedar Lane store Wednesday afternoon, Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps members took over CPR from a township police officer and set up a Physio-Control LUCAS 2 Chest Compression System.

The Lucas 2, one of four that the TVAC recently obtained through a federal grant, "gives high-quality chest compressions, allowing the crew to concentrate on rescue breathing," the corps' Larry J. Robertson said (see video, above). "Chest compressions are uninterrupted while moving the patient, something that is difficult to do when giving manual CPR."

Paramedics from Holy Name Medical Center arrived and gave the victim two additional shocks before taking him to the emergency room.

"He was then then brought to the cardiac catherization lab so that he could be X-rayed and a stent installed to clear a blocked artery on his heart," Robertson said. "The TVAC crew stayed right with him, giving compressions until the stent was installed.

"The Lucases have been used on several previous calls, but the previous patients had either bled out or were found too late to resuscitate," he added. "In this case, due to the patient being noticed immediately by several people, and the fast CPR response of the police officer, his heart beat was successfully restored."

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