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La Habra Heights council approves purchase of automated CPR device funded by local nonprofits
Summary
The city council voted to buy a Lucas automated chest-compression system and accept $32,654.36 in donor funding from the La Habra Heights Improvement Association and Los Compadres; the fire department said the device improves consistent compressions and includes vendor training.
The La Habra Heights City Council on Nov. 12 approved purchase of a Lucas automated chest-compression system and accepted a $32,654.36 donation from the La Habra Heights Improvement Association and Los Compadres to pay for the device. The council also authorized the city manager to sign the purchase order.
Ryan Jorgensen, a fire captain and paramedic coordinator for the La Habra Heights Fire Department, told the council the machine automates chest compressions and can reduce interruptions during CPR. "Some of my constituents in the field have noted that this device in and of itself is an absolute game changer in our industry," Jorgensen said, adding that the device "meets and exceeds" American Heart Association recommendations.
Jorgensen cited research-based figures during his presentation, saying hands-only CPR delivers roughly 20–30% of blood flow needed to perfuse the brain while the Lucas device can increase that contribution; he also said return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rates were higher in randomized trials using the device. Jorgensen said the vendor (Stryker) confirmed that on-site training and a train-the-trainer program are included with the purchase at no additional cost.
Rick Brooks, vice president of the La Habra Heights Improvement Association, described how his group and a second nonprofit, Los Compadres, raised funds to cover most of the purchase and said the organizations will reimburse the city. "We could afford to pay for half if we could raise the other," Brooks said, and later stated the groups would donate $32,654.36 toward the purchase.
Councilmember Speaker 9 moved to approve the purchase, accept the donation and authorize the city manager to execute the purchase order; the motion was seconded and passed on a recorded roll-call with all present members voting yes.
The device will be added to the department's advanced cardiac life-support toolkit and staff said the vendor will provide training for department captains and crews. The council did not discuss replacement schedules or future maintenance costs beyond the warranty and training assurances provided during the presentation.
The purchase will proceed pending the city manager's execution of the purchase order; the city said training will be provided on-site by the vendor.
