City implements PulsePoint app to help save victims of cardiac arrest

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month — 31 days dedicated to raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of this life-altering condition. The City of Fort Worth isn’t missing a beat as we proudly announce the launch of PulsePoint, a free 911-connected public safety app that empowers residents trained in CPR to help fellow community members in critical need.

PulsePoint is designed to improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest by notifying nearby CPR-trained individuals when someone is experiencing a cardiac emergency in a public place.

After 911 receives the emergency call, the app notifies CPR-trained individuals in the immediate vicinity about the cardiac event, who can rush there to provide CPR. It directs these “citizen rescuers” to start chest compressions in the critical minutes before emergency responders arrive.

It takes a village

The app also includes an automated external defibrillator (AED) registry, allowing emergency dispatchers and app users to quickly locate the nearest registered AED during an emergency.

Local businesses and individuals are encouraged to register their AEDs with the National Emergency AED Registry (NEAR). Registered AED owners receive real-time alerts when someone nearby experiences a cardiac emergency, helping ensure their AED can be quickly located and deployed.

Register on the PulsePoint website or through the PulsePoint AED app. The more AEDs that are registered, the greater the chance of saving lives.

Every second counts

Often compared to an “electrical” problem where the heart suddenly stops beating and pumping blood to vital organs, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States. It can cause a person with no pre-existing signs of heart disease to suddenly stop breathing and become unresponsive.

Approximately 90% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest do not survive. Survival depends heavily on immediate intervention, as outlined in the American Heart Association's (AHA) Chain of Survival, including early recognition, bystander CPR, rapid defibrillation, EMS response and hospital care. According to the AHA, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival.

Be ready to take action

Download the free PulsePoint Respond app to receive alerts if someone close by needs CPR before first responders arrive. Pair it with the free PulsePoint AED app to quickly find publicly accessible AEDs located nearby. When time matters most, your quick response could be the vital link that saves a life.

Both apps are available on the App Store and Google Play.

Learn more about PulsePoint.