IAFC Recommends Use of Mobile Technology to Activate Citizens and First Responders to Improve Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates

CHANTILLY, Va. —The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) supports the use of mobile technology for citizen response in conjunction with community cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) programs. In a Position Statement adopted May 9, the IAFC Board of Directors cited the PulsePoint mobile phone application (app) as a unique solution to increase survival from sudden cardiac arrest by bridging the gap between a cardiac arrest event and arrival of medical assistance. According to the Position Statement, “Applications such as PulsePoint offer a unique way to involve the citizens in a local jurisdiction to not only become aware of when others need life or death assistance, but also provide them an avenue to render aid. This not only reflects well on the fire department but provides the community with a sense of ownership in the program.” "Sudden cardiac arrest is not only a concern for emergency responders, but a community-wide challenge that requires a community-wide response," said Fire Chief Thomas Jenkins, IAFC president and chairman of the board. “As I’ve experienced in my own city, PulsePoint not only involves our residents in critical time-sensitive medical emergencies, but also strengthens bonds in our community and creates opportunity for positive interaction with our emergency responders.” When implementing a technology-based program to activate citizen response, the IAFC Position Statement recommen...
Source: JEMS Operations - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Cardiac & Resuscitation Operations Source Type: news