Lethbridge Fire implements new Cardiac Survivability Program

​Lethbridge residents now have an increased chance of survival from cardiac arrest thanks to new technology being used by Lethbridge Fire & Emergency Services.

The Cardiac Survivability Program began last fall, with a full implementation of new tools – including a High-Performance CPR system, a mechanical CPR device called Zoll Autopulse, as well as Handtevy Mobile (an app-based system to help practitioners with medication administration, equipment preparation and education for pediatric patients) – starting late last month.

"We are the first municipality in Canada to adopt the Handtevy system, which has been a key piece to making our Cardiac Survivability Program a success," says Adam Perrett, Medical Training Officer with Lethbridge Fire & Emergency Services. "LFES has made significant advances on the 10 Steps for Improving Survival from Cardiac Arrests listed by Resuscitation Academy in Seattle. When we started in September 2021, our chest compression fraction hovered between 83 to 87 per cent, whereas now we are consistently between 92 to 95 per cent. This is a significant improvement that brings great pride to our members."

Some of the other initiatives that LFES has been able to implement with the Cardiac Arrest Survivability Program include:

• Utilizing new online data collection software
• Initiating an agreement to contribute cardiac arrest data with AHS
• Establishing a Cardiac Survivability/High-Performance CPR working group
• Completion of significant training and equipment placed on frontline response apparatus