North Metro Fire Rescue has quietly pulled off a statewide first, putting new ZOLL Zenix monitor/defibrillators into service across its ambulance fleet and giving Broomfield-area patients a serious tech upgrade on the ride to the hospital. The district spent about $850,000 to nearly outfit its vehicles, and in the first week alone, crews used the monitors on five calls, helping at least four patients en route. EMS leaders say the devices deliver real-time CPR feedback and detailed vital signs that can shape treatment both on scene and during transport, part of a broader push to boost out-of-hospital cardiac arrest care close to home.
As reported by CBS Colorado, EMS Chief Randy Delaney, who pushed for the purchase, said the monitors provide immediate feedback that helps crews fine-tune chest compressions and ventilations in the middle of an arrest. Delaney told the outlet the Zenix units can also support traumatic brain injury assessments and log firefighter exposures to toxic fumes during structure fires. North Metro told CBS that other Colorado departments are already asking about the new gear, and the district wants to have the monitors available on every medical response it handles.
What the Zenix Does
The ZOLL Zenix monitor/defibrillator is designed to function as a rolling command center for patient data. It gives rescuers real-time clinical feedback on chest compressions and ventilations, includes a pediatric CPR Dashboard, and uses See-Thru CPR® rhythm monitoring so teams can assess heart rhythm without repeatedly stopping compressions. It tracks SpO2, ETCO2, and noninvasive blood pressure and offers a traumatic brain injury dashboard to follow trends during transport, according to ZOLL Medical. The company notes that its Real CPR Help® and Real BVM Help® features are built to nudge rescuers toward guideline-recommended performance in real time.
Why Feedback Matters
Devices that give real-time feedback, like the Zenix, have been shown to sharpen CPR mechanics, including improving compression depth and keeping rates more consistent, even as research is mixed on whether feedback alone changes survival for individual patients. Recent American Heart Association resuscitation guidance points to feedback tools and structured debriefings as system-level strategies that can lift overall CPR quality, while a systematic review has found steady gains in compression metrics alongside more uncertain effects on clinical outcomes. North Metro leaders point to those findings as the logic behind investing in monitors that hand rescuers immediate, actionable data right at the curb.
Local Rollout and Costs
North Metro told CBS Colorado it pulled about $850,000 from its budget to nearly equip the fleet and wrapped up crew training this week before flipping the switch on the new monitors. Officials say the devices' auditory prompts and clean data displays help steady and focus teams during cardiac arrests, a shift they hope will show up in better neurologic outcomes for people who survive. With neighboring agencies already asking for a closer look, North Metro expects that regional interest could push a broader review of similar tech upgrades.
What Residents Should Know
For residents in Broomfield, Northglenn, and nearby suburbs, not much changes about how you call for help. Dialing 911 and the way dispatchers send crews are the same as ever. The difference is what rides along in the ambulance, with more robust monitoring now available once medics arrive. For official updates and contact information, North Metro Fire Rescue keeps service details posted at northmetrofire.org.
