Contact: Russ Adams, Fire Chief
Monarch Fire Protection District
13725 Olive Blvd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017
314-581-2200

[email protected]

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Monarch Fire Protection District and St. Luke’s Hospital Launch Innovative ECPR Program for Cardiac Arrest Patients in St. Louis County
Groundbreaking Collaboration in Critical Care

St. Louis County, MO – March 10, 2025 – The Monarch Fire Protection District and St. Luke’s Hospital are pleased to announce a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at improving survival rates for cardiac arrest victims in St. Louis County. Beginning today, patients who meet the criteria will have access to Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR), a pioneering initiative designed to provide the highest level of life saving intervention as quickly as possible.

ECPR is an advanced resuscitation technique that utilizes extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This temporary heart and lung support is administered to patients who are unable to be revived after cardiac arrest with traditional CPR. This program marks a significant advancement in pre-hospital emergency services, enabling Monarch Firefighters/Paramedics to promptly alert St. Luke’s team in advance of a patient’s arrival during a cardiac arrest. This collaboration focuses on rapid recognition and streamlines treatment protocols, ensuring that St. Luke’s Cardiothoracic surgeons can respond quickly to the Emergency Department, and provide the necessary ECMO intervention. This life-saving initiative is the result of over six months of preparation and training, reflecting the commitment of both organizations to work together in saving lives.

“We believe that by collaborating and leveraging our combined expertise, we can significantly improve survival rates for cardiac arrest patients,” said Nick Smith, Deputy Chief of EMS at MFPD. “In 2024, the Monarch Fire Protection District proudly reported doubling the national average for cardiac arrest survival rates, and we are confident that this new program will help us save even more lives.”

“This is an exciting collaboration that allows providers in the hospital to work directly with providers in the field to improve survival after cardiac arrest,” said Dr. Jeremy Leidenfrost MD, St. Luke’s Cardiothoracic Surgeon.

The Monarch Fire Protection District and St. Luke’s Hospital are dedicated to enhancing emergency medical services in the community and ensuring that patients receive the best possible care during critical moments.

For more information about the ECMO program or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Monarch Fire Protection District Deputy Chief of EMS, Nick Smith at 314-581-2207 or [email protected]

St. Luke’s Media Relations Manager, Kelly Webb-Little at 314-614-9580 or [email protected]

About Monarch Fire Protection District:

The Monarch Fire Protection District proudly serves the fire, rescue, and EMS needs of over 80,000 residents across 62.7 square miles in Chesterfield and portions of Wildwood, Clarkson Valley, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Unincorporated St. Louis County. For more information visit www.monarchfpd.org

About St. Luke’s:

St. Luke’s Hospital, a nationally acclaimed independent non-profit, is one of the best regional healthcare systems in the United States. Renowned for its exceptional quality and patient satisfaction, St. Luke’s has consistently earned prestigious awards and accolades. The hospital holds the exclusive alliance provider status in the St. Louis market for the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute, further solidifying its position as a leader in cardiovascular care. Since its establishment in 1866, St. Luke’s has evolved from a single hospital location into an advanced network of care. Its 493-bed hospital in Chesterfield, Mo., and 143-bed St. Luke’s Des Peres Hospital serve as hubs for its 60+ specialties and 30 locations throughout the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit stlukes-stl.com.

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Community Approves Proposition A for Monarch Fire Protection District

Monarch Fire Protection District voters gave their support to Proposition A on the August 6, 2024, election ballot. Prop. A will raise funds to improve Monarch‘s emergency services by adding two ambulances, ensuring adequate staffing and training for firefighter/paramedics, and maintaining and updating critical emergency equipment.

“Each of these initiatives and improvements reflects our commitment to the residents of the Monarch Fire Protection District,” said Fire Chief Russ Adams. “We are dedicated to enhancing our services and ensuring you have the protection you deserve. Together we will continue to build a safer, stronger community.”

In the coming weeks, Monarch will begin planning for and scheduling the initiatives being funded for Proposition A.

Prop. A received a 64.31% favorable vote. A simple majority of 50% was required for the measure to pass.

For more information on Prop. A, go to www.monarchfpd.org/PropA.

Get To Know The Mission and The Team

The Monarch Fire Protection District is committed to serving and protecting our community through the highest quality of fire protection, EMS services, fire prevention, education, and community outreach. It is our mission to make sure that our community knows they can always Count On Us.