EFRT gets new life-saving equipment

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/EFRT.jpg” caption=”An impedence threshold device (the cylindrical object that connects the pump with the mask) can improve the effectiveness of CPR. Photo by Gregory Lau. “]Last November, the McMaster Students Union Emergency First Response Team (EFRT) became the first campus response team, and one of the first emergency medical services in Canada, to begin using a new type of life-saving equipment called an impedance threshold device (ITD).

An ITD is a non-invasive medical device recently recommended by the American Heart Association for use during cardiac arrest when a person's heart suddenly stops beating. Statistics show that even when given cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), less than 10 per cent of cardiac arrest victims survive.

ITDs work in conjunction with CPR to create a vacuum inside the patient's chest after each compression, pulling more blood back to the heart and forcing more blood out on the next compression. By increasing blood flow to the heart and brain during CPR, the ITDs dramatically increase the patient's odds of survival.

The baseball-sized device can double the amount of blood flow during CPR — a significant improvement over CPR, which is about one third as effective as a person's normal pulse.

“We constantly update our training and technology to stay at the forefront of emergency care,” says Laura White, the EFRT's public relations co-ordinator. “We worked hard to make sure we were among the first in Canada to deploy the ITDs because they have the potential to help us save so many lives.” Every EFRT responder has been trained to use an ITD during a cardiac arrest.

The new equipment is just part of the EFRT's response to cardiac arrest.

“The team is committed to the 'chain of survival' consisting of early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation and early advanced care,” says White.

The EFRT offers seminars, Red Cross CPR and first aid courses to teach people how to recognize cardiac arrest, call for help and provide early CPR. The team carries an automated external defibrillator and also works closely with Hamilton Emergency Services to provide early access to advanced care.

Founded in 1982 as Canada's first campus response team, the EFRT consists of about 25 extensively trained student volunteers who respond to any medical emergency on campus with a response time of approximately two to three minutes.

The team is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached during a medical emergency by dialing 88 from any campus phone. For more information about EFRT, CPR and first aid courses, please call ext. 24117 or visit www.msu.mcmaster.ca/efrt.

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/EFRT.jpg" caption="An impedence threshold device (the cylindrical object that connects the pump with the mask) can improve the effectiveness of CPR. Photo by Gregory Lau. "]Last November, the McMaster Students Union Emergency First Response Team (EFRT) became the first campus response team, and one of the first emergency medical services in Canada, to begin using a new type of life-saving equipment called an impedance threshold device (ITD). <br />
<br />
<p>An ITD is a non-invasive medical device recently recommended by the American Heart Association for use during cardiac arrest when a person&#039;s heart suddenly stops beating. Statistics show that even when given cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), less than 10 per cent of cardiac arrest victims survive. <br />
<br />
<p>ITDs work in conjunction with CPR to create a vacuum inside the patient&#039;s chest after each compression, pulling more blood back to the heart and forcing more blood out on the next compression. By increasing blood flow to the heart and brain during CPR, the ITDs dramatically increase the patient&#039;s odds of survival. <br />
<br />
<p>The baseball-sized device can double the amount of blood flow during CPR -- a significant improvement over CPR, which is about one third as effective as a person&#039;s normal pulse.<br />
<br />
<p>"We constantly update our training and technology to stay at the forefront of emergency care," says Laura White, the EFRT&#039;s public relations co-ordinator. "We worked hard to make sure we were among the first in Canada to deploy the ITDs because they have the potential to help us save so many lives." Every EFRT responder has been trained to use an ITD during a cardiac arrest.<br />
<br />
<p>The new equipment is just part of the EFRT&#039;s response to cardiac arrest. <br />
<br />
<p>"The team is committed to the &#039;chain of survival&#039; consisting of early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation and early advanced care," says White. <br />
<br />
<p>The EFRT offers seminars, Red Cross CPR and first aid courses to teach people how to recognize cardiac arrest, call for help and provide early CPR.  The team carries an automated external defibrillator and also works closely with Hamilton Emergency Services to provide early access to advanced care.<br />
<br />
<p>Founded in 1982 as Canada&#039;s first campus response team, the EFRT consists of about 25 extensively trained student volunteers who respond to any medical emergency on campus with a response time of approximately two to three minutes. <br />
<br />
<p>The team is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached during a medical emergency by dialing 88 from any campus phone. For more information about EFRT, CPR and first aid courses, please call ext. 24117 or visit <a href="http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/efrt">www.msu.mcmaster.ca/efrt</a>.<br />

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