The Tim Hortons in Stettler, working with the Stettler Health Services Foundation (SHSF) recently concluded its 2024 Smile Cookie Campaign.
Running from April 29 to May 5, the beneficiary of the campaign was SHSF in its bid to fund the purchase of a LUCAS Chest Compression System for the Stettler Hospital and Care Centre.
According to facility manager Janet Chaney, a LUCAS system straps around a patient's chest and provides 100 chest compressions per minute "consistently and accurately" when someone is in cardiac arrest.
"It's the most important part of CPR," said Chaney, in a recent interview.
Chaney says that typically, a provider can perform two minutes of effective Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) before their performance starts to drop off whereas the LUCAS equipment can provide consistent compressions for around 45 minutes.
"They are shown to work really well," said Chaney, noting that the increased, improved, circulation keeps more oxygen going to the body's vital systems, providing a better chance of survival and better neurological outcomes ins survivors.
Stettler and District Ambulance Association already have a pair of the devices and the new one would be for the hospital emergency department.
"If it saves one or two people a year, it's worth it," said Chaney.
Local physician, and SHSF board member, Dr. Bouwer agrees that the new equipment is important to the facility.
"This is one of the most useful devices that we could purchase right now," said Bouwer, in a SHSF Facebook post.
According to a Facebook post by the SHSF, the organization raised 95 per cent of its approximately $20,000 goal for the new device, and the balance to purchase the device will come from reserves.
"It's amazing," said Chaney.
"There's so much support for the cookie campaign. I can't say enough for the community and Tim Hortons."
