News Bites for Dec. 8, 2023

MOSES LAKE — A cattle truck rolled over near Moses Lake Tuesday night, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Crews responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision in the area of Raod 1 and Road U Southeast, about 10 miles east of Moses Lake, according to the statement. They found that the truck, which was hauling 64 head of cattle, had rolled on its side, blocking Road 1. The driver was unhurt, but five of the cattle had to be euthanized.

Grant County Fire District 4, El Oro Cattle Company and Agrifix Towing all worked together and provided resources to help with the response and recovery phases of this incident, the GCSO wrote.

MOSES LAKE — With weather-related vehicle accidents rising, the Moses Lake Fire Department offered several tips for winter driving in a statement Wednesday:

• Allow plenty of time for travel. This allows you to adjust your speed accordingly, stop for a rest when necessary and still have time for the all-important cup of coffee.

• Leave plenty of space between you and the car ahead of you. Plan for at least twice the amount of space you would need on a dry road.

• Plan your route, know the weather forecast, the current road conditions and the anticipated road conditions. You can check Washington road conditions at wsdot.wa.gov.

• Know your car and all its safety features and requirements, such as how to engage the 4-wheel drive, what the optimal tire pressure is for the conditions and make sure your tires have the appropriate tread for winter driving.

• Always buckle up.

• Use child safety seats according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Children should ride in a rear-facing seat until they are at least 2 years old, but longer is better. Children should ride in a booster seat until they are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall, and children under 13 should ride in the back. This is safer for all vehicles on the road and is the law.

• Prepare for the unexpected. Pack an extra blanket or two, extra water and a snack.

SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7, based in Soap Lake, recently acquired a ZOLL AutoPulse Resuscitation System, according to an announcement from the fire district.

A ZOLL AutoPulse automatically performs continuous CPR on a heart attack victim, according to the announcement. It helps to improve blood flow to the heart and brain during sudden cardiac arrest because of the unique, high-quality chest compression it generates. Compared to manual CPR, the AutoPulse has been shown to reduce interruptions in compressions during transport by more than 85% and was applied in as little as 14 seconds. A human performing CPR can only push about 30% of blood flow to the brain in an ideal situation, whereas with the AutoPulse deployed, using the LifeBand, it’t possible to push near-normal blood flow very quickly.

Studies have shown that seven responders are needed to provide CPR effectively to a cardiac arrest victim in ideal conditions, to provide rest breaks for the person doing compressions; to provide airway support by utilizing advanced airways, suctioning and providing ventilations; and to arrange medical helicopters, extrication and documentation, among other things, according to the announcement. At times it is very difficult to have this many responders at a cardiac arrest, especially in a rural setting like Grant County with a primarily volunteer EMS response. This device will allow uninterrupted high-quality CPR with much fewer responders. This will also improve crew safety, as CPR in the back of an ambulance bouncing down the road is not only dangerous to responders but also reduces the effect of CPR.

The money to purchase the AutoPulse was raised by Highrollers, a nonprofit supporting GCFD 7, and other local citizens, according to the announcement.

    Grant County Fire District 7 staff stop for a photo with the ZOLL AutoPulse Resuscitation System the department recently purchased. The new system will improve the quality of care they are able to provide to patients when they arrive at a scene.