Smartphone app reduces first responder time to treat patients with cardiac arrest

A new smartphone application has been developed that can direct first responders to cardiac arrest victims more than 3 minutes before the arrival of emergency services.

According to a press release from the European Society of Cardiology, each minute deducted from time of arrival increases a patient’s chance of survival by 10%.

“Sudden cardiac arrest is lethal within minutes if left untreated,” Christian Elsner, MD, said in the release. “In Europe, the emergency services arrive around 9 minutes after a cardiac arrest. Every minute earlier raises the probability of survival by 10% and reduces the risk of brain injury, which starts 4 minutes after cardiac arrest.”

Although CPR initiated by the public will shorten time between cardiac arrest and time-sensitive resuscitation measures, it only occurs in 30% to 60% of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Thus, the European Heart Rhythm Association created the EHRA First Responder App with the hope of increasing the rate of public bystander resuscitation, according to the release.

Operators alert nearby app users and emergency crews simultaneously using a mobile phone notification with directions to the patient’s location.

In 36% of cases during testing, a rescuer alerted by the app arrived more than 3 minutes before emergency services, according to the release.

Seventy percent of the 600 people who used the app during testing were medically trained and the remaining 30% had training in basic life support and agreed to retake the class every 2 years.

“The software has a standard interface and can be easily connected to most emergency alert systems in Europe in just a few steps,” Elsner said in the release. “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 3 to 4 minutes on average.”

Disclosure: Elsner reports no relevant financial disclosures.