By Hannah Drown
cleveland.com
NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio — City Council has approved the purchase of new life-saving equipment for the city’s ambulance services, including battery-powered patient cots and automated CPR devices.
Council on April 6 adopted an ordinance authorizing Mayor Kevin Corcoran to enter into contracts for three battery-powered patient cots, three LUCAS chest compression devices and related ambulance equipment.
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The city can purchase the items through the state bid list or seek outside vendors, in accordance with state law.
The ordinance was passed with an emergency clause, allowing the city to move forward with the purchases immediately rather than waiting for additional readings.
Corcoran said during the meeting the equipment had already been accounted for in the city’s 2026 budget and is due for replacement after years of use.
“These devices, especially the LUCAS devices and the cots, pretty much reached their end of life,” Corcoran said. “These are life-saving devices and devices that assist our firefighters in doing their work on a daily basis.”
LUCAS devices are mechanical systems that deliver consistent chest compressions during cardiac emergencies, which can improve patient outcomes and reduce physical strain on first responders.
Battery-powered cots, meanwhile, help lift and transport patients more safely, lowering the risk of injury for emergency personnel.
City officials indicated the upgrades are part of routine equipment replacement to maintain reliable emergency response services.
Council members voted unanimously to suspend the standard three-reading rule, add the emergency clause and adopt the ordinance, citing the importance of quickly replacing aging equipment used in daily emergency calls.
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