FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In 2020, the Springfield Fire Department responded to at least 235 calls that required crews to perform CPR because the patient on the scene was in cardiac arrest. Of those, we were able to regain spontaneous circulation on 51 of the calls, or 22%, before leaving the scene.
Statistically, there are over 350,000 sudden cardiac arrests in the United States each year. The survival rate is about 10%. For each minute someone is in cardiac arrest, their chance of survival is reduced by 10% if no action is taken.
EMS and Special Operations Battalion Chief Brian Athen recommends these following tips to improve survival rates:
- As an individual, reduce risk factors of cardiac arrest in your life. Risk factors include high blood pressure and high cholesterol; diabetes; smoking and secondhand smoke exposure; obesity; unhealthy diet; and physical inactivity.
- Participate in the free PulsePoint App for smartphones. Those trained in CPR and wishing to assist in case of an emergency can be notified of a cardiac emergency nearby that may require CPR.
- As a family member, take a CPR class.
- As a business owner, invest in an Automated External Defibrillator for your business and a three-hour training class for your employees.
How PulsePoint works
After downloading the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play by searching for “PulsePoint,” those trained in CPR and wishing to assist in case of an emergency can be notified of a cardiac emergency nearby that may require CPR. If the cardiac emergency is in a public place, the location-aware application will alert trained citizens in the vicinity of the need for bystander CPR at the same time first responders are dispatched. The application also directs these citizen rescuers to the exact location of the closest publicly accessible automated external defibrillator (AED). Note: User notification only occurs after the 9-1-1 system has been activated.
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Media inquiries are directed to the Springfield Fire Department media line at 417-874-2301.