GoodSAM App
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) has partnered with GoodSAM to respond to life-threatening calls involving cardiac arrest.
Appropriately trained off-duty SWASFT staff and community first responders can respond to alerts via the GoodSAM app on their smartphone. The sooner effective Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is started, the better the chances of survival for the patient. There is no obligation or requirement for anyone to register with the application or accept an alert and it is completely voluntary.
Dr Andy Smith, Executive Medical Director for SWASFT, said: "This is a great example of how innovation can save lives. We are excited to bring the previously demonstrated success of GoodSAM to the South West. This initiative links perfectly with South Western Ambulance Service’s “Saving Lives Together” campaign which is the trust’s strategic aim to improve patient outcomes from out of hospital cardiac arrest.”
“The evidence is clear, providing quality CPR in the first few minutes following cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival for our patients.”
Professor Mark Wilson, neurosurgeon and GoodSAM co-founder, said: “If a patient has a cardiac arrest or a traumatic head injury, it is the first few minutes after the incident that determine the outcome – life, death, or long-term brain injury. There are first aid trained people all around us but usually the first they know of a neighbour having a cardiac arrest is an ambulance appearing in their street. If they had known and started CPR a few minutes before the ambulance arrived, chances of survival can rise significantly. GoodSAM now makes this possible, connecting those with the skills to the public in their minute of need.”
How will it work?
When an emergency call is received by one of our Clinical Hubs and is classified as a cardiac arrest, details will automatically be sent through to the GoodSAM app, which will alert the nearest certified volunteer.
If the responder is available, they can accept the alert via the GoodSAM app and make their way to the patient in need.
If the volunteer responder is unable to accept the alert, it can be declined and will get diverted through to the next nearest responder.
The responder will also be advised of the location of the nearest defibrillator. When a public access defibrillator is used in cardiac arrest.
The GoodSAM app uses GPS technology to alert trained first responders to nearby life-threatening emergencies.
Who can volunteer to be a responder?
Initially, as SWASFT role it out within the organisation our staff, community first responders and volunteer doctors can register.
We will assess how the system is working locally before possibly opening it out to suitably trained people working in the other emergency services or registered doctors and nurses.
Want to learn more about the GoodSAM App?
Visit the GoodSAM website.
