A smartphone app has been developed mobilise dozens of trained volunteers to respond to cardiac arrest, it was announced today.
A trial has found that reduces the time patients wait for help by three minutes – ensuring that cardiopulmonary resuscitation begins before emergency services arrive.
The app, tested in Lübeck, Germany, identifies the nearest trained "bystander" on their system and directs them to the patient suffering cardiac arrest.
As part of the trial some 600 volunteers, known as "app rescuers", were recruited. Out of these 70% had medical training and the others were given a basic life support course.
The app was developed by the European Heart Rhythm Association, which has been holding a conference in Vienna, Austria.
Developers reported that in 36% of cases, app rescuers arrived more than three minutes before the emergency services. The app is now likely to be used across Germany.
Dr Christian Elsner, from the association, said: “Ultimately we will roll the app out across Europe.
"We hope to raise bystander resuscitation rates to 70 to 90% and for cardiac arrest patients to be resuscitated in three to four minutes on average.”
He added: “In Europe, the emergency services arrive around nine minutes after a cardiac arrest. Every minute earlier raises the probability of survival by 10% and reduces the risk of brain injury, which starts four minutes after cardiac arrest.”
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