When someone experiences cardiac arrest, knowing CPR can make the difference between life and death.
That’s why the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is encouraging citizens to download the PulsePoint Respond App on their smartphones.
The WFPS is now on the app in an effort to help save lives in dire situations. Using the WFPS computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and GPS, the app alerts CPR-trained bystanders about sudden cardiac arrest incidents in public locations within 500 metres of their location. It also locates the nearest Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
“Once the heart stops pumping, seconds really do count. While our crews arrive quickly, we know that if administered immediately after cardiac arrest, CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival,” said WFPS Chief John Lane.
“For every minute that passes without help, the chance of surviving a cardiac arrest drops by about 10 percent. If a CPR-trained PulsePoint user can start care immediately, it very well could mean the difference between life and death for someone.”
To receive notifications, users must select to receive the “Nearby CPR-needed” notification in the app.
Approximately 1,100 cardiac arrest events are handled through the WFPS 911 communications centre each year. Roughly 30 percent of those occur in public places.
The PulsePoint app is a free download for iOS and Android mobile devices.
