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Local Rescue Squad Gets Automated CPR Machines

Posted: 5:12 PM Dec 7, 2012

Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad Gets Chest Compression Machines

December 7, 2012

The Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad has a new tool to help save lives.

It's called the "lucas 2" and it is basically a robotic CPR machine.

Rescue workers can strap it to a patient on the ground, and the machine will give continuous compressions to help restart the patient's heart.

Lucas 2 is a powerful, battery-operated machine, and it is like having an additional rescue worker at the scene.

"What this will do is it will streamline the number of people that we will have to do chest compressions," said Anthony Judkins, a CARS training officer. "So they will have other tasks assigned to them to help with the cardiac arrest."

The rescue squad has two of the compression machines, each costing $14,000.