SCCF Hopes to Save Lives with Grant to Starke County EMS

17 Aug SCCF Hopes to Save Lives with Grant to Starke County EMS

A recent Impact Grant to the Starke County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) may save lives. The grant of $14,350 was used to purchase a mechanical device, called a LUCAS CPR device, as well as one year of maintenance for the device. The technology performs non-stop CPR, freeing the EMS responder to treat and transport the patient to the emergency room.

The SCCF Grant Committee members received a demonstration of the device from a company representative. Research supports the efficacy of using the technology, and anecdotal stories support the research; the Committee members learned that the device has been used on a patient for 21 hours, saving the patient’s life and resulting in 99% brain function post-event.

The device will be housed in the Knox Starke County EMS location.

So far this year, the SCCF has awarded more than $315,000 in grants and scholarships, and more than $40,000 has been granted through the SCCF’s Community Support and Impact Grants program.

Recent grants include: Starke County Park Board for Bass Lake Beach improvements, $5,000; North Judson Park Beautification Committee for the band shell at Norwayne Field, $7,970; Yellowstone Trail Festival for programming, $3,900; Psi Iota Xi for the 2018 Young Artists’ Conference, $2,000; Starke County Community Corrections for the Therapeutic Community programming event, $600; North Judson-Wayne Twp. Fire Department for protective gear, $2,674; Habitat for Humanity Starke and Pulaski Counties for programming, $2,000; Knox Winamac Community Health Center for health fair supplies, $1,000; and various grants to Starke County Schools, $2,279.

Area nonprofits interested in a grant should visit nicf.org or contact Corinne Becknell Lucas at 574-223-2227.