New cardiac arrest alert app available for North Durham residents

DAN CEARNS, The Standard

NORTH DURHAM: A new app has been launched to aid in emergency situations in North Durham.

On Wednesday, September 21st, at Lakeridge Health Oshawa hospital, it was announced that an app known as ‘PulsePoint’ had launched.

This free mobile app is available in Oshawa, Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge. The app works by “alerting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)-trained users through the PulsePoint Respond app when someone in a nearby public place requires CPR for a cardiac arrest. And provides individuals and users with information on where to find the closest public Automated External Defibrillator (AED).”

At a Scugog council meeting on Monday, September 26th, Fire Chief Mark Berney explained the importance of this app.

“Early intervention, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation or automated external defibrillation within minutes of a cardiac arrest, can dramatically increase survivability. To achieve this, we need more people trained in CPR or AEDs in public places, knowledge of where these AEDs are, rapid notification of a cardiac arrest, and intervention,” Chief Berney stated.

The Fire Chief added the creation of this app was supported by General Motors and OnStar.

Lakeridge Health notes community members are “invited to assist in building a comprehensive AED Registry through the companion PulsePoint AED app.”

“This Region-wide registry will display AED’s and co-located resources such as Bleeding control kits, Naloxone and Epinephrine,” the press release added.