By Bill Hobgood

Richmond became the first community in the state of Virginia to implement PulsePoint Respond and the associated PulsePoint AED app. Following a soft launch on March 24, 2016, the launch was announced to the public during a press conference on April 6, 2016.

With the launch of a new smartphone application, saving lives and preventing catastrophic injuries is now just a click away. The PulsePoint Respond smartphone application, or app, is currently active throughout the City of Richmond. This free app, available on Android and Apple platforms, notifies residents and off-duty professionals who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and are willing to assist in the event of an emergency.

With location-aware software linked to the 9-1-1 system, PulsePoint Respond notifies registered users when someone may be in need of CPR in a nearby public place. If the app user responds to the alert, they are given further instructions to include if an automated external defibrillator (AED) is also nearby. As a result, PulsePoint users can potentially find a victim of cardiac arrest, begin CPR, and implement an AED during the time it takes for first responders to arrive.

A second free app, PulsePoint AED, enables the public to report and update AED locations so that emergency responders, including nearby individuals trained in CPR, can find an AED close to them when a cardiac emergency occurs. PulsePoint AED app users can describe the location, snap a picture, and the information is stored for Richmond Fire Department officials to verify. After that, the AED location data is made available to anyone using PulsePoint Respond.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones opened the press conference.

“Bringing this mobile, life-saving technology to our community is a tremendous step forward. The PulsePoint app will be of great assistance to our first responders as it will position Good Samaritans to engage in life saving CPR right away, especially when seconds count, said Mayor Jones. “At City Hall, we’ve installed AEDs, which will help us take full advantage of these applications. I encourage everyone to learn about this life saving device as well as the PulsePoint apps.”

PulsePoint was integrated with Richmond’s Intergraph CAD system as the result of a generous donation from the 100 Club, an extension of the Retail Merchants Association.

The complete press release is available at this link: Richmond Announcements – City Partners With Pulsepoint to Improve Cardiac Response in RVA.

Additional press coverage is available at this link: WRIC TV 8 – New Apps Allow Able Community Members to Respond to Nearby Emergencies.