City of Riverside Fire Department Launches PulsePoint Mobile App to Alert CPR-Trained Community Members of Nearby Cardiac Arrest Events in Public Places
Published: 7/27/2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 27, 2022
Contact:
Captain Brian Guzzetta
City of Riverside Fire Department
951-312-5568
City of Riverside Fire Department Launches PulsePoint Mobile App to Alert CPR-Trained Community Members of Nearby Cardiac Arrest Events in Public Places
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – People with CPR training will be able to help persons in their vicinity who are suffering cardiac distress – and possibly save lives -- by signing up with a new mobile app being brought to Riverside by the Riverside Fire Department.
The lifesaving PulsePoint app notifies off-duty medical professionals and everyday community members trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of nearby cardiac arrest events – in hopes of facilitating immediate CPR during the crucial moments before emergency services arrive. Since the app also shows the closest AED, the responder also can defibrillate the person, giving the victim an even greater chance at survival.
According to the American Heart Association, for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, the chances of survival can decrease by about 7-10%.
“In 2021 our department ran a total of 629 incidents which were either dispatched as a cardiac arrest or the crew discovered that the patient was in cardiac arrest upon their arrival,” said Interim City Manager Michael D. Moore, who has served for years as Fire Chief. “We know that immediate CPR and early defibrillation with an AED can more than double a victim’s chance of survival. Understand, bystander assistance buys time while our paramedics are en route to do their jobs.”
Anyone with a smartphone can download the free PulsePoint app through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Once the app is installed, community members should select the agency “Riverside Fire, CA.” Once downloaded, the PulsePoint app allows users to receive push notifications for local incidents as well as cardiac arrest events occurring at public places within close proximity. Alerts will not be issued for cardiac arrest events occurring at private residences.
“There’s power in our community -- and with that power comes the ability to save lives,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said. “As you can see, this is a no-cost, high-reward life-changing piece of technology that has leveraged partnerships to save lives right here in our very own community, regardless of socioeconomic status or language needs.”
The local launch of PulsePoint was made possible through the generous financial support of the Riverside Medical Clinic Charitable Foundation (RMCCF), a 501(c)(3) public charity. They have elevated our community’s health through the Riverside Project Heart initiative which incorporates the three links in the chain of survival: PulsePoint technology, CPR education, and AED technology.
Lynda Bailey, RMCCF Executive Director, said: “We are dedicated to educating the community about the PulsePoint app. We will continually encourage individuals to register to be a responder, teach individuals basic CPR/AED skills to be an effective responder, and provide AEDs to Riverside communities where there may be insufficient numbers to support the population density. We are incredibly proud of this public-private partnership.”
“None of this would be possible without the unwavering dedication and commitment of our internal and external partners -- our City’s IT department, the Riverside Police Department’s dispatch team, the Foundation, and the various project managers working behind the scenes to make this come to fruition,” Moore said.
“Do your friends, family, and neighbors a favor – if you’re comfortable with hands-only CPR, pull out your smartphone, visit RiversideProjectHeart.com to download the PulsePoint Responds app, and add ‘Riverside Fire, CA,’” Lock Dawson said. “If you’re not comfortable with CPR basics just yet, find a class nearby and do your part.”
To watch the press conference, visit www.facebook.com/CityOfRiversideFire and www.facebook.com/CityofRiverside
Testimonial video: click here.
Download the PulsePoint app one of two ways:
For the latest information and resources regarding COVID-19 -- www.RiversideCA.gov/COVID-19
