Sedona Fire District Auto-Pulse Device Proves
Successful in First Deployment

Sedona AZ (October 16, 2018) – At the September Board of Directors meeting, Division Chief Ed Mezulis made a presentation to the board about the new Auto-Pulse device that the fire district had recently purchased. This device can best be described as a large band that encompasses the chest of a cardiac arrest victim and performs CPR. “The Auto-Pulse, never gets tired, never slows down and performs excellent CPR. It is so good at CPR, that it performs more effective compressions than most people, and it certainly exceeds that in the back of a moving ambulance,” said Mezulis. Auto-Pulse devices have been shown to increase the survival rates in witnessed cardiac arrests. The device was placed in service just a few weeks ago and was deployed on a witnessed cardiac arrest for the first time on Monday afternoon.

“Our crews were dispatched to a witnessed cardiac arrest yesterday afternoon,” said Mezulis, “after arriving on scene, the Auto-Pulse was applied to the patient and began performing CPR compressions.” The goal of any resuscitation is the Return of Spontaneous Circulation or ROSC, which is when the heart begins to beat again on its own. Mezulis went on to explain, “Before arrival at the hospital, the patient experienced ROSC and was beginning to regain some purposeful movement. Although they still have a difficult recovery ahead, thanks to the excellent performance of our crews and the Auto-Pulse, this patient has a good chance at recovery.” Sedona Fire District purchased the Auto-Pulse device for $16,400.