A new smartphone app has been developed to alert qualified first aiders to nearby emergencies and allowing them to provide preliminary treatment while an ambulance is en route.
St John Ambulance has urged regional Western Australians to download the Australian-first application.
The free First Responder app sends a notification to qualified, registered users who are within 500 metres of a public emergency incident.
The responder, someone with appropriate first aid training such as an off duty paramedic, doctor, nurse or member of the public, is able to locate the patient and provide immediate, appropriate first aid care.
Incidents that will trigger an alert include cardiac arrest, burns and allergic reactions.
Importantly, the app also allows people to dial triple zero and automatically sends GPS coordinates to the St John State Operations Centre, helping paramedics easily locate the patient.
This feature is particularly important for people living in regional WA should an emergency arise in an area with no street signage or landmarks.
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St John Ambulance clinical services director Paul Bailey encouraged all people living or working in regional WA to download the app, even if they weren’t a qualified to be a first responder.
“The First Responder app is a truly lifesaving innovation that dramatically increases a patient’s chance of survival in an emergency,” Dr Bailey said.
“Firstly, the app allows qualified first aiders in the vicinity of a certain incidents to use their training to provide preliminary care while an ambulance is en route.
“Another key feature is the app’s ability to send GPS coordinates to St John’s State Operations Centre once you’ve dialled triple zero.
“Provided you have mobile phone reception, this feature gives our paramedics your exact location even if you’re not near a road or major landmark.
“For all Western Australians, but particularly those in regional WA, this feature is incredibly important as it saves precious time and can make a huge difference in an emergency.”
The First Responder app is a truly lifesaving innovation that dramatically increases a patient’s chance of survival in an emergency
- St John Ambulance clinical services director Paul Bailey
St John is raising awareness about the First Responder app as part of international Restart a Heart Day on October 16 which aims to train the nation in life saving CPR skills.
Dr Bailey said the app, which was developed in WA , was particularly effective in providing immediate treatment to people suffering a heart attack or cardiac arrest.
“Time is critical in all emergencies, but even more so for someone with a cardiac condition,” he said.
“We know that if someone suffers a cardiac arrest, for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, their chances of survival decrease by 10 per cent.
“An ambulance will always sent to the scene, regardless of how many first responders are in the vicinity.
“However, by enlisting trained first aiders nearby, early intervention can occur as soon as possible, giving that person the best chance of survival.”
The app also lists the location of registered defibrillators nearby, allowing first responders to retrieve and use a defibrillator during a cardiac arrest.
For people who aren’t registered first responders, the app provides first aid information to treat a range of illnesses and injuries, as well as other important information.
To learn more about the St John First Responder app, check out the First Aid Responder App Guide. For more information on
St John Ambulance first aid courses across WA, visit http://www.stjohnambulance.com.au/first-aid- training/first-aid- courses.
