Callaway County EMS has recently partnered with PulsePoint AED to locate where automated external defibrillators (AED) are located in the community.
AEDs and immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) greatly increase the chances of survival after cardiac arrest, according to Callaway County EMS.
CPR and the use of an AED are often performed in a prehospital setting by bystanders prior to EMS arriving to the scene.
According to a Callaway County Ems release, prehospital CPR is vital for several reason -- it maintains blood circulation, increases the chance of resuscitation and preserves brain function.
AEDS in prehospital settings restores normal heart rhythm and increases survival rates. AEDs are also designed to be user-friendly, with voice prompts guiding untrained bystanders through the process.
PulsePoint AED is a "free mobile application that supports these lifesaving interventions," a release states.
The app allows users to report and geolocate AEDs. This function increases the accessibility of AEDs to bystanders, which could be critical in a cardiac arrest emergency situation.
Once a cardiac arrest is reported, the PulsePoint app can alert nearby bystanders who are CPR-trained.
"We encourage our community members to help us locate the AEDs by downloading PulsePoint AED and reporting the AEDs you see in our community. This will these interventions by increasing the accessibility of AEDs and engaging communities in emergency response," the release states.
AEDs can also be registered without the PulsePoint app by visiting aed.new.