Donations Fund Heart Monitors

August 10, 2007

By BRIAN STANLEY Staff Writer

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP -- Lockport Township paramedics have gotten the jump on getting the jump on treating heart attack victims.

Thanks to donations from Silver Cross Hospital, Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center and Heartland Cardiovascular Center, the district has been able to equip its five ambulances with 12-lead heart monitors.

"This was in our budget to be phased in over the next year, but thanks to these donations, we got them a few months ahead of schedule," said Fire Chief Robert Cronholm.

The donations were presented in a small ceremony Wednesday at Fire Station 4.

Silver Cross and St. Joe's each donated $10,000 and Heartland donated $1,000 towards the purchase of the monitors, which cost around $20,000 each.

The machines not only show a better picture of the heart condition than older 3-lead models, but transmit that data to the hospital before the ambulance arrives, according to Emergency Medical Services Coordinator Mike Gale.

"The machines are stored in the ambulance, but can be taken into the house and hooked up immediately," Gale said. Lockport firefighters trained to use the monitors this week.

"This is a win-win situation between the community, the fire department and medical care," said Mark Griglione, Provena Saint Joseph Foundation Board Treasurer.

"This equipment will definitely save lives since time is of the essence (when treating heart attack victims)."

The monitors will allow doctors to start treatment ideas before the patient arrives. Firefighters and medical personnel at Wednesday's presentation said the earlier a heart attack is treated, the better the chances for survival and recovery.

"This won't just benefit the Lockport Township community, but also anyone passing through who needs assistance or if we go to help a neighboring department," Cronholm said.

Reporter Brian Stanley can be reached at (815) 729-6079 or bstanley@scn1.com

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