JOHNSTOWN — The Johnstown Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps has a new tool to help treat heart attack victims.

The state-of-the-art device, the Zoll AutoPulse automated chest compressor, features new technology that can improve blood flow to the heart and brain when someone goes into cardiac arrest.

Bonnie Burtman, chief of the Johnstown Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps, said the AutoPulse achieves unprecedented levels of circulation with a unique, consistent series of chest compressions delivered by a band that wraps around the patient.

Interruptions in compressions can decrease the chance of survival in such instances, according to the American Heart Association.

“Once a person is in cardiac arrest every minute counts to get the heart beating normally again,” Burtman said.

“For every minute that passes, the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent. After 10 minutes, survival is unlikely. Our goal is to protect the lives of our citizens and this purchase in an important step in helping to achieve that goal,” she said.

The Heart Association said the human toll from sudden cardiac arrest is alarming. An estimated 95 percent of victims will die, some 325,000 a year.

In addition to helping the patient recover by providing continuous and consistent chest compressions, the device also helps to ensure the safety of emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

That’s because, Burtman said, they no longer have to do compressions by hand in the back of a moving ambulance.

Zoll reports that nationwide, more than 1,400 AutoPulse units are being used by rescuers in 470 organizations.

In the Capital Region, Niskayuna Fire District 1 has one, as does the Northampton Ambulance.

Northampton corps Capt. Jack Farquhar said his department purchased a refurbished unit for about $7,500, half the price of a new one.

“We’ve had it about a year and a half, two years. It works very well. Luckily, we don’t have to use it much,” Farquhar said.

Steve Kuck, operations supervisor for Rural Metro — a nationwide company — said some operators have it but the service in Montgomery County does not.

“It’s on our wish list. It’s very expensive,” he said.

Jeffrey Hammond, a spokesman for the state Department of Health, said DOH is encouraged by the fact that ambulance squads want to update their equipment as new technology emerges.

“They are becoming more common,” he said. “There are other ambulance services in the Capital Region that have them. We do think it’s a useful piece of equipment.”