PulsePoint

What is PulsePoint?

PulsePoint is a system that uses a location-aware smartphone app to rapidly dispatch citizen volunteers to perform CPR and provide early defibrillation for cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
PulsePoint has been used in several cities throughout the US in conjunction with CPR training initiatives and AED registry development.

Why is PulsePoint important to Allegheny County?

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is an extremely lethal condition. At the national level, on average only 12% of people survive this condition to leave the hospital.
Early CPR and defibrillation can drastically increase the probability of survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
In Allegheny County, PulsePoint will be deployed in an effort to increase the likelihood that cardiac arrest patients will get CPR and defibrillation as soon as possible.

How does PulsePoint work?

PulsePoint is integrated with Allegheny County Emergency Services 911 Dispatch software. When a cardiac arrest call is received, PulsePoint automatically sends a signal to the smartphones of registered users within walking distance of the patient.
Notifications include the street address of the patient and the location of the nearest AED.
When a PulsePoint responder arrives at the scene, they provide CPR and if available apply an AED.
Importantly, EMS personnel are dispatched simultaneously and may arrive before a PulsePoint responder. Once EMS arrives, they will take over treatment of the patient according to local and state protocols.

Who can participate in PulsePoint? ... And How?

Everyone in Allegheny County who knows how to perform CPR and is willing to respond in an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest emergency is encouraged participate.
Download the PulsePoint Respond app from the app store of your choice. It's free! You could save a life!

Wide adoption of PulsePoint can increase the probability of early CPR delivery across a city.

PulsePoint orients bystanders to a nearby cardiac arrest and nearby AEDs.