Sussex residents can download life-saving app

Sussex County residents now have the ability to save someone's life in the palm of their hand.

County officials have rolled out PulsePoint Respond, a new high-tech phone application to alert smartphone users that someone is in cardiac arrest near their location. It allows those trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to respond immediately until county paramedics or emergency medical technicians arrive.

County Emergency Operations Director Joe Thomas said the app is free and works only for cardiac events in public venues, such as businesses, not in private residential settings.

Thomas said when someone calls 911, the system is automatically activated and received by people who have indicated on the app that they are certified in administering CPR. A map is displayed on the app showing the origination of the 911 call. In addition, instructions on the proper use of CPR are displayed.

The app also identifies nearby locations of automated external defibrillators.

Thomas said seconds and minutes count when someone has a sudden heart attack. “Early application of bystander CPR and rapid defibrillation from an AED have proven to be crucial in improving a person’s chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest,” he said.

He said early intervention before first responders arrive can boost survival rates by 50 percent.

Robbie Murray, Sussex County Emergency Medical Services deputy director of operations. said even under the best circumstances, it takes paramedics about eight minutes to reach a scene. He said paramedics respond to one cardiac incident every day in Sussex County.

“Each year we see higher survival rates of sudden cardiac arrest when patients receive bystander CPR,” said EMS Director Bob Stuart. “Anytime you expand the responder pool you increase the chances for survival.”

The app is the latest digital offering from the county focusing on public safety, joining Smart911, an online service that allows residents to create safety profiles with pre-loaded information that can assist first responders during a 911 call. That service, which the county has offered since September 2014, is also free.

The county cost for the program is $10,000 per year. Sussex is the first jurisdiction in Delaware to implement PulsePoint, which is used worldwide.

To download the app, search for PulsePoint in the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores. To learn more, visit pulsepoint.org/pulsepoint-respond or phone 855-7801.