# Smartphone app saves lives

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-app-saves-lives/723880>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 30, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-app-saves-lives/723880 "2015-06-30T17:10:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-app-saves-lives/723880/1 "2015-06-30T17:10:03Z")

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[Link](http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/saving-lives-smartphone-app-links-911-dispatch-volunteer-cpr-responders). (There is an audio link on the site if you’d like to listen to the story.)

> [@](#):
>
> In certain Northwest cities now, 911 dispatch sends out mobile phone alerts to citizen responders nearby when a person requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a public place.
> 
> A free smartphone app called PulsePoint automatically notifies users when there’s a cardiac emergency nearby. It’s tied in to participating 911 dispatch centers. The idea is for citizen responders to start CPR while medics are still on the way.

It sounds like a good idea. In the story, a mechanic who moonlights as an EMT got the message and saved the life of an infant who had stopped breathing. Emergency Services can’t be everywhere at once, and it would be good for people who know CPR to be available. Better yet, _everyone_ should know CPR and basic first aid. (And yes, I’ve been slacking myself.)  
EDIT: I meant to post this in MPSIMS. :smack:

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**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-app-saves-lives/723880/2 "2015-06-30T19:38:25Z")

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Thread relocated at the request of the OP.

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**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-app-saves-lives/723880/3 "2015-06-30T20:06:00Z")

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Supervisor in a 9-1-1 center here.

We have implemented something similar to alert people with AEDs to a nearby cardiac arrest. As best as I understand it our system sends a text message and no smart phone is required.