As part of its ongoing ‘Start a Heart‘ campaign, South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to be the first ambulance trust in the UK to launch a Lifesaving app that locates the nearest Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Thanks to Atrala Consulting Inc we now have an Apple iPhone and iPad Lifesaving app that users can also access their phones. Our app uses GPS functionality to show where the nearest Automated External Defibrillator is as well as a list of other AEDs in the area.
The Lifesaving app, which identifies over 600 AEDs in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, could help local people save the life of a person suffering sudden cardiac arrest. As well as providing clear and simple guidance on how to perform CPR on adults, children and infants (including hands-only CPR), the app uses GPS functionality to show where the nearest AED is as well as a list of other AEDs in the area.
Lifesaving app – Remember, the first thing to do in any real emergency is to ring 999.
You can follow this link to download the iPhone version of the app.
Not only does the Lifesaving app provide the building name and exact address of the nearest AED, but also informs users exactly where in the building the AED is located. SCAS is working on identifying which of these is available 24 hours a day and this will be part of the apps ongoing development.
Professor Charles Deakin, SCAS Divisional Medical Director (Hampshire) and Chair of the Advanced Life Support Committee, European Resuscitation Council said:
“Statistics show that in cases of sudden cardiac arrest outside hospital, only 1 in 10 people survive. However, when bystanders provide CPR and use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) before emergency medical services personnel arrive, as many as 4 in 10 victims survive.
“This innovative new Lifesaving app from South Central Ambulance Service is therefore a real lifesaver.
Modern AEDs are incredibly simple to use – even a child could do it – and the ability of people to be more confident in giving CPR and to quickly locate their nearest AED and use it on a person suffering a suspected cardiac arrest could save thousands of lives each year.”
Lifesaving app for iPhone and iPad
Can be downloaded from the Apple iTunes Store using the relevant links, or you can browse the store searching for ‘AED Locator UK’.
Versions for Android and Blackberry operating systems are currently in development for this Lifesaving app.