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This iPhone App Could Save Your Life

This iPhone App Could Save Your Life

Cardiac arrest? There’s an app for that–this one, which alerts citizens who know CPR if someone in the vicinity needs help.

The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, not typically known for its high-tech innovations, has nevertheless launched a brilliant iPhone app that could help save lives.

In the words of the fire department’s Vimeo page, “The new app empowers everyday citizens to provide life-saving assistance to victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.” If you know CPR (and live in the region served by the app), you can sign up to be notified if someone in the area is having a cardiac emergency. When you arrive on the scene, the app will even direct you to the location of the nearest public acess defibrillator. It’s something like having an EMT dispatcher in your pocket at all times. And in situations where one of these good citizens is blocks or miles closer than the nearest professional, it could mean the difference between life and death.

O’Reilly Radar was one of the first to report on the app, and in speaking with San Ramon’s fire chief, heard some eye-opening stats:

“Nation-wide, we have over 300,000 people dying from cardiac arrest every year,” said Richard Price, fire chief at SRVPD. “This app will help put rescuers where they are and get automatic electronic defibrillators off the wall.”

Currently, Price says that there’s less than an 8 percent chance of survival if someone goes into cardiac arrest on the street. “With a cardiac arrest, you only get about 10 minutes to help,” he said. “On average, it takes 7 minutes for first responders from a 911 call to arrive. The reason many people are dying is because of that difference.”

The software company WorkDay has donated time to develop this app, and reportedly will be porting it to Android and BlackBerry.

[Thanks: http://www.fastcompany.com]

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