Cardiac Arrest: Bedford Fire Enacts New Protocols for Treatment

BEDFORD, MA—The Bedford Fire Department has taken measures to improve its cardiac arrest treatment outcomes by enacting a new treatment protocol for such situations.

Chief David Grunes announced Monday that the Bedford Fire Department has adopted the cardio-cerebral resuscitation protocol(CCR). CCR focuses on using effective chest compressions for up to eight minutes before administering active ventilations and moving the person.

“Research has shown that this new protocol effectively increases the survival rates among cardiac arrest patients compared to the advanced life support protocols that we traditionally use,” Chief Grunes said in Monday’s release. “Implementing this protocol is an important step for the Bedford Fire Department to ensure that we provide the highest possible level of emergency care to our community.”

Burlington made a similar switch to CCR protocols last week, citing that moving the patient had disrupted resuscitation. The protocol has been most successful when dealing with adult patients who have experienced cardiac arrest with a certain type of heart arrhythmia and who receive immediate medical attention, according to the Fire Department.

This new protocol will not be used on minors.

[Photo courtesy of the Bedford Fire Department]