LVRS PROJECT HEARTSAVER
In-field 12-lead Cardiac Monitor Program

New!! LVRS Public Access Defibrillation Program (PADP)

12 - Lead Technology

The members of the Lake Villa Rescue Squad are dedicated to providing the finest emergency medical services in Lake County. We take pride in serving our community, in being part of a team, and providing professional emergency medical services.

In keeping with this commitment, we have embarked on a project which allows us to enhance the emergency medical services provided to the community. The Lake Villa Rescue Squad is initiating Project Heart Saver. The goal of the project is to identify heart attacks more effectively and efficiently in the pre-hospital setting while decreasing the amount of time to definitive treatment in the hospital. In the treatment of heart attacks, time is crucial in limiting the damage done to the heart. In the past, we have used a 3-lead cardiac monitor that allowed us to view three sides of the heart’s electrical activity; however, new technology is available that enhances the service we provide our patients, potentially saving many more lives. With Project Heart Saver, the Lake Villa Rescue Squad has upgraded our cardiac monitors to 12-leads. This upgrade will allow us to increase the view of the heart’s electrical activity. This increased view improves our ability to properly identify heart attacks in the field and limit the time it takes to receive definitive treatment in the hospital setting.  The decrease in time means a decrease in damage to the heart and will ultimately improve the patient’s chances of survival.

The Lake Villa Rescue Squad began the initial phase of implementing in early 2000. The area hospitals have been very receptive to such an aggressive transition to this higher standard of care for cardiac patients.

"Patients have already benefited from the use of 12-lead ECG in the field," said Aaron Bernau, Public Information Officer for the Lake Villa Rescue Squad. "The tool provides us with a much broader view of the heart."

Lake Villa Rescue Squad is currently operating with three Zoll 12-lead cardiac monitors, one on each of their three front-line ambulances.

The cost of implementing the entire project has been roughly $50,000. This places a 12-lead cardiac monitor in each front-line ambulance.  This amount has been raised solely by donations and grants from area residents and businesses.  There is a list of donors below.  Please thank them for their support.

If you would like more information about the Project Heart Saver program and how it applies to you, or if you would like to make a donation to the effort, please contact the Project HeartSaver Program creator and coordinator: Jeff Benes at (847) 356-7376.

"Project Heart Saver is well worth the investment. We are well along the way to having this program fully implemented," stated Benes. "I am proud that the Lake Villa Rescue Squad is making such a bold and aggressive move to provide such quality patient care."

Project HeartSaver Donors:

Estate of Richard A. Peterson
Abbott Laboratories Fund Grant
Lake Villa Fire Protection District
Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst
Modern Home Products Corp.
Prudential Insurance Helping Hearts Program
Murphy Ambulance
Ronald Zembron
Cedar Village
Deep Lake Shores Homeowner Assoc.
885 Civic Club
Jeffrey K. Benes
Aaron & Heather Bernau
Gregg & Cindy March
William & Judith Turner
Carl & Judith Filipowicz
B & B Wood Specialties
Joeseph, Eleanor, & Steve Ray
Village at Victory Lakes
Bea Gustafson
James & Mary Pawlak
Lake Villa VFW Post 4308
Betty A. Slazes
Morgan & Mittleman LTD. Attorneys At Law
Advance Custom Design Upholstery
Robert & Carla Martin
Cedar Village - Memory of Charlotte Johnson
Cedar Village - Memory of Frank Hollech
Wilbur & Mildred Peterson
Raymond & Catherine Parpan
Rebecca F. Albrecht