Are the "chest thumpers" new?

[cogath]

Saw a code today and someone brought a "thumper" that was a machine delivering compressions to the patient's chest. Nurses around me said it was the first time they've seen the machine. It was my first code and was pretty brutal. I am wondering if these are new.

Also, I am wondering if seeing a code gets easier. I am still very shaken by it and found the entire ordeal very upsetting. It was an elderly dialysis patient. The patient was in rough shape to begin with and even worse after the code (he was brought back to life). I kept asking myself , "why?"

[tech1000]

I've heard of the chest thumpers and saw one yesterday at work on a dummy. We just do it ourselves here ) I've never been one to be bothered by codes. I've seen numerous ones and they just don't bother me. I just get sad for the family if it was a younger person who passed away and that's the part I hate. I also hate that the young people never seem to make it and the old people all come back, even though I feel like it's probably their time anyway.