University of Central Florida President John C. Hitt, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orange County Fire Chief Otto Drozd III gather at the University of Central Florida to launch the PulsePoint apps program.<\/p>\n
On Valentine\u2019s Day during National Heart Month, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orange County Fire Rescue (OCFR) partnered with the University of Central Florida (UCF) to launch two lifesaving apps – PulsePoint Respnd<\/strong> and PulsePoint AED<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The apps support first-responding agencies like OCFR by encouraging CPR-trained citizens to respond to sudden cardiac arrest incidents as emergency crews are dispatched. The partnership to launch the technology at UCF was a natural fit. In 2015, the UCF community was devastated by the loss of Michael Namey, a student who collapsed on campus and later died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n \u201cI am proud to stand with Orange County Fire Rescue to launch the PulsePoint apps,\u201d said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, who is also CPR certified. \u201cWhen help is needed, our superhero first responders arrive as quickly as possible, but we know that when minutes matter, finding help just steps away can be the difference between life and death. This extraordinary technology helps make it possible for a CPR-trained citizen to also be a hero.\u201d<\/p>\n PulsePoint Respond notifies users through their mobile device that someone nearby is in need of CPR. The application also directs them to the closest publicly-accessible automated external defibrillator (AED), all while emergency crews are responding to the scene. The notification can only be sent by a participating 911 system, which has also dispatched emergency personnel. Notifications are only sent when an individual is in cardiac arrest in a public area.<\/p>\n PulsePoint AED enables users to upload a photo and mapped location of an AED, which is then available to all users during an emergency. An AED is a device that checks an individual\u2019s heart rhythm when experiencing cardiac arrest and then delivers a potentially life-saving electric shock to restore the individual\u2019s normal heart rhythm, Today\u2019s AEDs are very easy to use, with many designed to provide clear verbal step-by-step instructions to the user.<\/p>\n Both applications are available to download<\/a> for free on mobile devices.<\/p>\n “UCF has worked diligently to provide CPR training to our students, faculty members and staff members. Since the tragic death of student Michael Namey in 2015 following a cardiac incident inside a classroom, we\u2019ve also increased the number and visibility of defibrillators on campus,” said UCF President John C. Hitt. “As we embark on this partnership, we do so with the safety and well-being of our entire campus community in mind. Of the 500 defibrillators included in PulsePoint\u2019s location feature, I am proud to note that 200 are on this campus.”<\/p>\n The apps are the first line of hope for individuals experiencing cardiac arrest. Now, users who are within walking distance of the individual in cardiac arrest can be alerted and respond within seconds as emergency crews navigate to the scene.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst responders are trained to rush to the aid of those in need in our communities,\u201d said Orange County Fire Chief Otto Drozd III. \u201cHowever, 57 percent of U.S. adults say they have had CPR training, and most would be willing to use CPR or an AED to help save a stranger\u2019s life. With PulsePoint, we can engage those who are willing to help and increase the survivability of cardiac arrest incidents in Orange County.\u201d<\/p>\n Pulse Point Response and Pulse Point AED were funded through Orange County\u2019s Office of the Medical Director.<\/p>\n For more information about PulsePoint visit www.pulsepoint.org<\/a>. To learn CPR, contact your local American Heart Association<\/a> or Red Cross<\/a> chapter, or request CPR training<\/a> from Orange County Fire Rescue.<\/p>\n