CPR Apps that Help Save Lives

Technology is now helping to improve cardiac arrest outcomes by leveraging the power of bystander response times with the use of various CPR apps. Bystanders are the key to increasing survival rates of cardiac arrest — they are in the immediate vicinity and can respond quickly while waiting for EMS to arrive and take over.  

Early CPR and early AED use give the best chance of survival. Brain damage begins after 4-6 minutes without oxygen, and brain death may occur after 10 minutes. This means the faster someone starts compressions, the better chance for a positive outcome. Here are some CPR apps that can help save a life during an emergency by using bystanders that are willing to act and provide life-saving care.  

The PulsePoint Respond app is a free app that empowers CPR/AED trained bystanders to provide life-saving care in their communities. Individuals register as a trained responder and are then notified if someone nearby is having a cardiac emergency and may need CPR. PulsePoint is integrated with the local community emergency dispatch, allowing for immediate alerts to be sent out as soon as the 911 call is placed. Keep in mind that now all communities are connected to PulsePoint at this time, but more are being added every day. 

PulsePoint also provides the location of the closest public access AED. For every minute that passes without an AED shock, the chance of survival decreases 7-10% — so knowing where to find one is crucial in an emergency. Registered users can help build the AED registry by reporting and updating AED locations when they are on the go. This information is then made available to anyone using PulsePoint, including emergency responders and local dispatchers that can direct callers to nearby AEDs. At this time, almost 85,000 AEDs have been registered. 

Heart Hero is another free app that connects bystanders to cardiac emergencies in their area. Similar to PulsePoint, trained responders register with the app to receive push notifications when someone nearby may need CPR. The app provides a CPR guide to use during an emergency and locations of nearby publicly accessible AEDs. It also provides other resources like instructional videos, reading assessments, quizzes and an interactive CPR challenge game. 

There are many CPR, AED and First Aid apps available for your devices. Here are just a few emergency related apps that are available for download. 

• Emergency Contact apps – Apps like ICE – In Case of Emergency allow paramedics on the scene to identify you, effectively treat you and be able to contact your next of kin, or chosen emergency contact, immediately.  
• Pet First Aid apps – Unless you’ve taken a pet first aid training course, you may be at a loss for how to provide care in an emergency when your pet needs it most. Browse through the various pet first aid apps available for your device and become familiar with the app features before you need it. 
• Disaster preparedness apps – Download the FEMA app to receive real-time alerts, emergency safety tips and locate emergency shelters in your community. Other various disaster preparedness apps are available to meet the needs of your area. 

We encourage you to share information about CPR apps like PulsePoint with your students during class or even as part of your strategy to continue to provide value beyond the classroom. For more teaching tips and resources, check out our blog!