The Northside Hospital Cherokee Auxiliary recently donated $45,000 to help the fire departments in Big Canoe and Pickens County buy lifesaving equipment.
“These grants will purchase lifesaving equipment to help improve patient care as first responder personnel transport people to the hospital,” Brenda Hunton, president of the Auxiliary, said.
The Big Canoe Department of Public Safety received $27,000 to purchase a Zoll X Series cardiac monitor and defibrillator. The machine allows first responders to shock the heart and monitor the vital signs of a patient experiencing cardiac arrest.
“This allows our staff on the scene of an emergency to contact the emergency room staff to provide early warning,” Big Canoe Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ricky Jordan said.
“The early recognition of a cardiac event, combined with early treatment by EMS crews and rapid transport to a cardiac catheterization lab for treatment, is a gold standard for successful outcomes.”
Northside Hospital Cherokee has a 24/7 cardiac catheterization lab.
Pickens County EMS received $18,000 for the purchase of a LUCAS device, which provides mechanical chest compressions to patients in cardiac arrest.
The battery-operated device — a Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System — allows first responders to give consistent compressions during patient transport.
“Emergency services are the first line of defense for medical emergencies outside a medical facility,” Pickens County Fire Rescue Chief Tim Prather said. “We buy the patients time and get them to a medical facility for more extensive and in-depth care.”
The Northside Hospital Cherokee Auxiliary is the organization behind the Volunteer Services at Northside Hospital Cherokee and is a vital part of the care the hospital delivers.
The Auxiliary also operates the hospital’s gift shop. Gift shop and vendor sales allow the Auxiliary board to raise funds, and the profits go back to the community to purchase items such as these lifesaving devices.
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce recently recognized the Northside Hospital Cherokee Auxiliary as its 2023 Nonprofit of the Year.
Learn more about the Northside Hospital Cherokee Auxiliary.
Learn more about cardiovascular care at Northside.
