WEST FARMINGTON, Ohio - The closest hospital to residents living in Farmington Township, in northwest Trumbull County, is about 25 minutes away.  Time, that in cases of emergency, can be the difference between life and death.

"Regardless of running lights and sirens, 25 minutes is a long time for patient care," said fire chief Jon Bland with the Farmington Township Fire Department.

The Farmington Township Volunteer Fire Department and EMS squad recently received a donation from University Hospital's Geauga Hospital that will help bridge that gap in time and distance. They received a device known as the Lucas 2.  It is a automatic chest compression system and in cases of sudden cardiac arrest, the hands-free device can provide uninterrupted chest compressions.

"We basically slide it on the person's chest.  It is all battery operated and it does everything for us," said Bland.

The device frees up the hands of first responders, who can continue to provide other life-saving tasks.   Bland says the compression ratio of the Lucas 2 device works within the American Heart Association's guidelines. 

"Go back to the 25 minute transport time, you have that crew fatigue.  This will guarantee good quality CPR consistently for that 25 minutes where somebody might have to switch another member or take a break," said Bland.

Experimental studies show the device's compressions sustain a higher blood flow rate to the heart and brain compared to manual compressions.