The Piqua Fire Department placed two new Lifepak 35 cardiac monitors/defibrillators into service last week, replacing two of the department’s four Lifepak 15 units. The remaining two Lifepak 15s are slated for replacement in 2029.
The City of Piqua purchased the two new Lifepak units at a cost of $115,000, representing a significant investment in patient care and operational efficiency.
“The Lifepak 35 is a meaningful clinical upgrade for our crews and our community,” Assistant Fire Chief Doug Stewart said. “Among the most important improvements, our paramedics no longer need to pause CPR to capture an underlying heart rhythm — a change that helps maintain high-quality compressions during cardiac arrest. The devices also offer expanded technical capabilities and enhanced data and display features, improving the information we share with receiving hospitals.”
The new monitors are assigned to the department’s first two medic units — meaning the first two ambulances in the fleet lineup that respond to calls — which together handle approximately 90 percent of the department’s runs. Key enhancements of the Lifepak 35 platform include:
- Continuous rhythm analysis without interrupting CPR,
- Additional electrocardiogram (ECG) leads for better cardiac data and transmission, and
- Upgrades in clinical, data and display functionality to support faster, clearer decision-making in the field.
The Piqua Fire Department remains committed to investing in advanced lifesaving technology to support emergency response across the City of Piqua and surrounding areas.