Los Angeles County Fire Department officials announced Tuesday the launch of Pulse Point, a new app which alerts its users of people nearby who go into cardiac arrest and are in need of assistance while emergency services are on their way.

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The Los Angeles County Fire Department, the PulsePoint Foundation and the Wireless Foundation are partnering together to provide the app that they hope can save lives.

“With the launch of this app, the Fire Department hopes to get as many people trained on hands-only CPR,” said Fire Inspector Rick Flores.

If someone downloads the app, and then calls 911 because of a cardiac emergency, then the app will notify other app users nearby, and alert them to the location of the nearest set of defibrillators. More than 13,000 people have already downloaded the app, Flores said.

Users are recommended to obtain training in CPR, although the app has a section with a quick how-to on the basics of hands-only CPR, officials said.

More than half of U.S. adults say they’ve had CPR training, and most would be willing to use CPR or an AED to help save a stranger’s life. Yet only 11 percent say they’ve used CPR in an actual emergency, according to the Pulse Point website.

“Widespread deployment of the PulsePoint app can significantly strengthen the Chain of Survival by increasing the chance that lifesaving steps will be taken by CPR-trained individuals prior to the arrival of our personnel,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby. “Mobile technology can help us build a safer, more resilient community, and thanks to the donation by The Wireless Foundation, PulsePoint is available to Los Angeles County at no cost to our organization.”

 The leading cause of death in the U.S., cardiac arrests outside hospitals are responsible for more than 1,000 deaths a day and 424,000 a year. Effective CPR administered immediately after a cardiac arrest can potentially double or triple the victim’s chance of survival, but less than half of victims receive that immediate help, accprding toa  press release from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.  

“This is a perfect example of the ‘connected life’ that provides enormous benefits for all thanks to this very simple concept, which is to alert CPR-trained individuals to a nearby cardiac arrest situation so they may assist until the professional responders arrive on the scene,” said Meredith Attwell Baker, President of The Wireless Foundation and President and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association. “If you’re CPR-trained, please download the PulsePoint app now to help save a life.”immediate help, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Users are recommended to obtain training in CPR although the app has a section with a quick how-to on the basics of hands-only CPR. The app also alerts users of the nearest automatic external defibrillators (AED).

The Pulse Point app can be downloaded for free from both Google Play and the App Store on iTunes. For more information click here.

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