The Harwood Area Fire and Rescue (HAFR) recently received an extremely generous gift from one of their longstanding community supporters, Ellingson Companies (EC).  The Ellingsons are no stranger to the area as they have been doing business in the RRV since 2000. Every year EC supports HAFR but in 2021 they reached out stating that the company would like to partner with the department to fund a project. HAFR were beyond excited to find out that they wanted to partner and fund a Lucas 3 Chest Compression System. This device gives extremely effective chest compressions throughout CPR, with very minimal effort by responders. This device also allows members to administer electrical shocks via an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) while it continues giving compressions. This device can truly be a life saver!   

The device was unanimously chosen by the EC ownership & leadership team, as they work almost exclusively in rural settings where first responders may be scarce in numbers and often delayed in getting to them when they call for help. Their decision came to life due to a story they had shared with the department. A few years ago, a team of EC employees were working in rural Minnesota when one of the members had a severe medical emergency. The other EC team members contacted 9-1-1 and worked to decipher where the ambulance would be coming from and set out in that direction. When the Ambulance and deputy Sherriff intercepted them, they helped get him into the ambulance and the medic took over care.  With only one responder on the ambulance, they made the quick decision to have the Sheriff drive the ambulance and the medic was able to give emergency care to the EC employee on the way to the hospital. If the ambulance in this instance would have had this device onboard, it would have been used, but on that day the EC team member was able to see his family again.