User Story: How Life-Stat Helps The University of Alabama Assist Rural Communities

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automatic cpr device

There are many reasons why the Life-Stat is the best automatic CPR device the industry has to offer. We take pride in its several unique qualities that make it suitable for adults of nearly any size and even the elderly. 

Glen Davis, the Regional EMS Director at the University of Alabama, states that his department uses the Life-Stat to provide emergency services to rural areas—a true testament to its life-saving capabilities.

Practicality Without Compromising Quality

“One of the things I really like about the Life-Stat is the ventilation component that other mechanical CPR units don’t provide,” said Davis. “The performance and reliability are exceptional and performance is way above expectations. It provides high-quality CPR.”

Another convenient attribute of the Life-Stat is its flexibility. It can be used efficiently in confined spaces, including stairways. The device is lightweight—only 19.5 lbs. (8.8 kg)—making it easy for immediate use and it accommodates larger patients than other CPR devices available today.

This device is also affordable—that way, lives aren’t compromised in the name of saving money. 

“The Life-Stat is really the cheapest way to add staff at a minimum per usage cost. This is very important in these tough economic times and we will look at adding more Life-Stat units as our budget allows,” said Davis. 

A Device You Can Count On

Did you know that the Life-Stat provides CPR for as long as you need, so long as you have an oxygen source available? 

Its electronic control module allows users to switch from 30:2 to CCV mode, with no interruption to CPR.  The control module also has a pause/resume feature, allowing you to pause the device if an AED is needed. 

The sustainability of this device is also one of its most remarkable features. Davis says that the device’s track record of sustainability and life-span has far exceeded his expectations. 

“With most capital expenditures, you can get an average of 5 years of service,” he said. “We started using the Michigan Instruments equipment in 1978 and even though they have changed for the better over the years, the basic function has never changed.”

Additionally, the Life-Stat delivers uninterrupted CPR to patients in accordance with the latest AHA (American Heart Association) guidelines. 

“If you want to give your patients, who are in cardiac arrest, the best chance to survive and return to their families and normal productive life… then seriously look at adding the Life-Stat to your emergency team.”

Our Goal? To Keep Saving Lives with Life-Stat

Michigan Instruments’ automatic CPR device has helped save lives all around the world for over 55 years. It’s our goal to keep current with the guidelines while offering an affordable, reliable CPR device providing patients with their best chance at survival.

To learn more about the benefits of the Life-Stat, visit here or contact us today.

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Life-Stat CPR Device Saves Man’s Life After Being Being Clinically Dead

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life stat mechanical cpr

More importantly than anything, Michigan Instruments’ Life-Stat mechanical CPR device saves lives. In Farmdale, Ohio, Leonard Osborn went into cardiac arrest and didn’t have a heartbeat for 16 minutes.

Thankfully, Osborn’s family members contacted 911. Within minutes, he was hooked up to the Life-Stat from Michigan Instruments and survived.

The Life-Stat: Michigan Instruments’ Mechanical CPR Device

The Johnston Fire Department used funds from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to purchase two Life-Stat devices from Michigan Instruments. One of the first members of the fire department’s EMS crew to respond to Osborn’s emergency, Mary Kay Sly, said; ”It was amazing to see how it worked and to know how effective of a tool it is.”

The Life-Stat is a mechanical CPR device designed to deliver continuous chest compressions, with an option to ventilate, to a patient in a state of acute cardiac arrest. The Life-Stat is lightweight and easy to use. Additionally, the transition from manual CPR can be done with minimal interruption to compressions. 

Read more about Michigan Instruments CPR and the benefits.

How The Life-Stat Saved Osborn’s Life

The medical director for Johnson Township EMS, said mechanical CPR surpasses manual CPR (given by a person) because it can guarantee the rate, depth, and quality of the compressions. Plus, it gives the first responders the ability to complete other tasks because they are not administering CPR manually. 

“There is no way a person could keep up with the amount of compressions it often takes in a situation like this,” said Dr. Jeffery Bedlion, when asked about using mechanical CPR to save Osborn’s life. 

Osborn regained a spontaneous heartbeat while being transferred to the emergency room. According to Mary Kay Sly, this was about 16 minutes after he “clinically died.” Once arriving at the Warren hospital, Osborn was admitted to the intensive care unit where he underwent a cardiac procedure. 

Thankfully, Osborn was discharged only a few days later. Soon after, he and his wife visited the Johnson Township Fire Department to thank the crew that saved his life, to which Osborn said; “I owe them big.” 

Know The Signs of a Heart Attack

The American Heart Association (AHA) lists the following as the most common signs of a heart attack: 

  • Chest discomfort
    • In the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and then returns. It can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. 
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
    • Including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath
    • With or without chest discomfort
  • Nausea 
    • Possibly cold sweat, or lightheadedness. 

Without early medical intervention and consistent compressions, someone suffering from a heart attack can suffer permanent damage or even death.

The Hands-Free CPR Solution

Michigan Instruments Automated CPR devices have saved countless lives and continue to improve first responders’ life-saving intervention. These devices provide high-quality, uninterrupted CPR no matter the circumstance. 

Interested in the Life-Stat or Thumper for your hospital or emergency service? Read more about the benefits and specs and request a quote for a device today. 

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How the Life Stat Automated CPR Device Saved a North Carolina’s Woman Life

Survivor Story: Life Stat CPR Machine Saves North Carolina Woman's Life

Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in America. However, it’s an event that’s survivable with the right intervention and equipment, such as Michigan Instruments’ Life-Stat CPR machine. 

This was proven true when Julia Sims, a Greensboro, North Carolina woman, suffered a massive cardiac arrest that was months in the making.

A Perfect Day Turned Into a Nightmare

March 19, 2011, was a beautiful day in Greensboro. The sun was shining and birds were singing; an indicator that spring was arriving early. 

It was perfect; that is, until Julia suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). 

Fortunately, her husband, Jeff, and daughter, Brett, were in the same room when Julia’s arrest hit her. Both immediately sprung into action; Jeff dialed 911 and followed the operator’s instructions on how to manually deliver CPR while Brett assisted. 

A Greensboro EMS unit arrived on the scene only four minutes later.

A perfect combination of first-responder manual CPR, AED defibrillation, automated CPR, and modern rescue techniques helped her to survive the incident, but not without 12 field defibrillations and 45 minutes of uninterrupted automated CPR from the Life-Stat device.  

“It really was a perfect day,” Julia said. “By the grace of God, I came through.”

Interested in learning more about our Life-Stat automated CPR device? Contact us today.

An Attack Lying in Wait for Months

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), only 8% of cardiac arrest victims survive. It’s even rarer for someone to survive without any adverse effects.  

For months prior to her cardiac event, Julia suffered from a wide range of symptoms, such as:

  • pressure/pain in the upper back
  • exhaustion
  • Insomnia
  • indigestion
  • vomiting

Most people wouldn’t recognize these as being precursors for a heart attack. In fact, Julia’s family didn’t even recognize them. 

After multiple health consultations, they believed it was a simple case of the flu and continued to go on about their daily lives. 

“I had the symptoms for months and tried every home remedy I could find,” Julia said. “But after two doctors told me I was fine, I stopped worrying.”

That was, until March 19, 2011.

Interested in learning more about our Life-Stat automated CPR device? Contact us today.

Dedicated to Educating Women About The Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest

Julia walked away from the experience alive, healthy, and on a mission. Today, her goal is to educate others on cardiac arrest causes and symptoms.

Most people imagine the symptoms of a heart attack to be sharp pressure, pain in your left arm, heaviness in the chest, a feeling of extreme exhaustion, etc.

While these are typical symptoms that arise in men, Julia’s symptoms are classic in women. However, they are seldom mentioned in standard health education courses or talked about in everyday life.

Julia believes that her outcome is due largely to Greensboro EMS. They hold a save rate higher than the national average, due to their competence, knowledge, and usage of mechanical CPR devices such as the Life-Stat.

Read more User/Survivor Stories from the Life-Stat here.

Life Stat CPR Machine Proven to Save Lives

While continuing education around cardiac arrest and heart health is important, manual CPR pales in comparison overall to uninterrupted, mechanical CPR.

This is why Michigan Instruments is a proven partner of many hospitals and EMS units across the country. Our Life-Stat CPR machine is the only one on the market today that meets 2015 AHA CPR guidelines for both chest compression and ventilation, thus providing patients with their best chance at survival. 

Learn more about our automated CPR devices and how they can be used in both hospital and pre-hospital settings. Contact us today.

Blog Image: Phillips Heartstart, “Julia Needed More Than Just CPR”, 2020, via savingamericanhearts.com
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How Automated CPR Revived a Patient With Severe Hypothermia

Survivor Story: How Automated CPR Revived a Patient With Severe Hypothermia

Did you know that immediate CPR can save someone that’s dying from hypothermia?

That was the case when a Michigan hospital used Michigan Instruments Life-Stat automated CPR device to revive a patient with severe, near-fatal hypothermia. Below is the patient’s survivor story. 

Early Intervention, Dire Circumstances

It was the middle of winter in Michigan when a 56-year-old man was found face down in the snow; frozen and unresponsive. 

At EMS’ time of arrival, he had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC) of 6. A GSC of 3-8 is known as “severe” condition. The patient also had pinpoint pupils and was given NARCAN®, but was still unresponsive.

When he arrived at the hospital, the unresponsive patient’s condition dropped to a GSC of 3. That’s when CPR was initiated with the Michigan Instruments Life-Stat automated CPR device, along with intubation. 

He was experiencing ventricular fibrillation, considered the most serious cardiac rhythm disturbance. One attempt at defibrillation was made, but the temperature of the patient was 25 degrees Celsius (77°F).

Therefore, no further shocks were delivered.

Interested in learning more about our Life-Stat automated CPR device? Contact us today.

Automated CPR and Hypothermia

The patient remained on the Life-Stat automated CPR Device, while an intravascular warming catheter was inserted into the femoral artery. An esophageal warming device was also administered. 

These warming devices were used in conjunction with the Life-Stat device for 3 hours and 45 minutes. During that time, his temperature rose from 25 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius (82°F). Once his temperature rose, another shock was administered, but this was also unsuccessful. 

Then, the patient was given an epinephrine drip and additional shocks. Finally, he opened his eyes and moved his extremities. 

Only one hour later, he was able to follow commands while still on a ventilator.

A Miraculous Recovery

Eventually, the patient moved to the ICU to undergo additional tests and imaging. According to these tests, there were no signs of edema on his head or chest. 

While in ICU, he weaned off the drips, was extubated and slowly improved. Nine days after his arrival in the ER, he was discharged.

When asked how often the automatic CPR device was used in the hospital, Dr. Joseph Miller (MD, MS) responded with; “we use it daily, for every cardiac arrest.”

Interested in learning more about our Life-Stat automated CPR device? Contact us today.

Hypothermia and CPR: Michigan Instruments Life-Stat Device Saves Lives Every Day

This survivor’s story is just one of many examples where a Michigan Instruments automated CPR device was used to administer continuous, consistent CPR to cardiac arrest patients in a prolonged resuscitation. 

Light enough to be incorporated into any hospital crash cart set up and perform precise, programmed, hands-free CPR, you’ll never get tired with our Life-Stat or Thumper CPR machines.

Learn more about our automated CPR devices and how they can be used in both hospital and pre-hospital settings. Contact us today.

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