WHAT IS PULSEPOINT?
What is PulsePoint? PulsePoint, a potentially lifesaving mobile application (“app”) for both iOS and Android smartphones that alerts nearby citizens when there is a need for critical lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the location of a nearby public access automated external defibrillator (AED) in response to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
HOW DOES IT WORK?
How does it work? PulsePoint is activated by Metro Net’s computer-aided dispatch at the same time as fire and paramedic resources are dispatched. It then notifies CPR-trained individuals of a cardiac incident occurring within a quarter mile of their current location. Users receive the location of the incident with a map, the closest automated external defibrillator (AED), and a link to CPR instructions.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
A citizen responder reacting quickly to a PulsePoint alert can greatly improve the chances of a victim’s survival. SCA is a leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 1,000 deaths per day. The American Heart Association estimates that effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.