01/10/2025
It's the return of an old friend in 2025 -- the Rivereast Spotlight Story of the Week! This week, read about the new CPR machine the Marlborough Board of Selectmen recently unanimously agreed to purchase. Like what you see here? Want to see more stories like it? Then pick up a copy of today's Rivereast!
Marlborough Buys ‘Life-Saving’ CPR Machine
By Michael Sinkewicz
The Marlborough Board of Selectmen (BOS) on Tuesday unanimously approved the purchase of a new “life-saving” CPR machine for the town’s first responders.
The BOS authorized $26,860 for a LUCAS 3 Chest Compression System, as requested by the Marlborough Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD).
The purchase will be financed through the town’s opioid settlement fund — money that’s been bestowed to Marlborough through the state attorney general’s office following a settlement with several pharmaceutical companies.
The new machine will be under the control of MVFD, who will add it to one of its vehicles, potentially an ambulance.
Lt. Paul VanMeter said he expected the machine to be used 12-15 times throughout the year.
“It’s going to provide perfect CPR for a patient that’s in cardiac arrest,” he explained. “This is a life-saving device.”
Fire Chief Kevin Asklar noted that once CPR is necessitated, MVFD is required to be on-scene for 20 minutes. Depending on the time of day, there could be anywhere from two to eight personnel responding to that call. If, he added, there are only a pair of individuals available, it can be “very difficult” to sustain CPR for the duration, as each person switches off every two minutes.
The machine, however, would not be subjected to the same exhaustion. While injuries to the patients are still possible, it limits some of the potential shortfalls of manual CPR, conveyed Asklar.
“They’ve definitely been proven to be more effective than having a human switching in and out, especially when you have limited manpower,” he told the board.
VanMeter added, “It’ll give the patient the best possible outcome.”
One individual would be able to set up the machine while the other begins CPR. The machine also allows the patient to be moved without disrupting compressions. Asklar confirmed that all necessary training would be done in house at no additional cost to the town.
Town Manager David Porter said there was currently around $20,000 in the opioid settlement fund, but the town typically receives a roughly $7,000 payment each March.
Rather than delay the purchase, Porter confirmed there was sufficient cashflow to cover the shortfall until the fresh funds arrive, and that the town would be “back in the black” before the end of the fiscal year.
The CPR machine, he added, would be an appropriate use of the opioid reserve.
“This meets the program requirements,” he reported. “Those funds have restrictions — they can’t just be spent on anything.”
The cost of the machine is $20,482, but the BOS agreed to cover a four-year warranty that bumped the total by more than $6,000.
VanMeter expressed that MVFD should be able to perform most routine maintenance, but the warranty would kick in should anything problematic arise in the future.
Town Meeting Scheduled
Also, the BOS scheduled a town meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Marlborough Elementary School cafeteria to approve two appropriations through the town’s general government reserve.
During its meeting Tuesday, the BOS recommended the allocation of $80,000 — which represents the town’s 20% share of a nearly $400k project.
The town is required to secure the funds before it can apply for a state DOT Transportation Rural Improvement Program grant, which if approved, would extend a sidewalk on Lake Road by 330 feet.
The second item that will be considered at town meeting is an $18,000 appropriation — which also represents a 20% share — to procure a $90,000 van for senior services.
