New machines given to the DeKalb Ambulance Service could not only improve patient care but save lives.

The department recently received three auto vents and three endo-bright scopes through grant money which they will use while transporting patients.

“Sometimes our patients are not able to breath on their own,” said Cody Johnson of the DeKalb County Ambulance Service, explaining the usefulness of the auto-vent. “Using that we can better control their breathing and the amount of oxygen they get in their lungs.”

The machine is customizable for all patients and will help control their ventilation rate.

The video scopes they received will help when they need to put a tube down a patient’s throat.

“Before, we had to visually look down and insert the tube,” Johnson said. “With the scope we can look down their throat and see any obstruction and see how we can best insert the tube.