Pulse Point
Citizens can download the free app via the Apple Store or Android Market and indicate that they are willing to assist when CPR is needed.. Those that are CPR trained should highly consider downloading this app and even those that are just willing and able to help should consider it as well. Hands only CPR is easy to learn. (link to the video) It also is a great way for citizens to stay engaged with SFFR and what is going on in the City of Sioux Falls. When a 911 call is received reporting someone unconscious, unresponsive and likely needing CPR, 911 will dispatch SFFR and EMS resources as they currently do but at the same time, software running a PulsePoint will send an alert to nearby citizen rescuers that have indicated they would like to be alerted. By using GPS and location technology in today’s mobile devises, the app only notifies those within walking distance of the event in a public area. When citizens are alerted, the app indicates their present location, the location of the patient and the location of any nearby AED.
To install the PulsePoint app simply search PulsePoint in the Apple App Store or in Android Apps on Google Play.
PulsePoint30 from LightsOut on Vimeo.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information. On a ‘CPR Needed’ notification, the app reports only an address (in a public place) and a business name, if available. Individually identifiable health information, such as name, birth date, or Social Security Number are not reported or known to the PulsePoint application.
The PulsePoint app is a Location-Based Service (LBS) with the ability to make use of the geographical position of your mobile device. The LBS capabilities of the app allow you to see your current location relative to the incidents occurring around you. This is an optional feature that is not enabled by default – you must specially opt-in to utilize this functionality. In addition, if you opt-in to the CPR/AED notification, the PulsePoint server will store your current location for immediate reference during an emergency where you may be nearby. In this case, only the current location of your device is stored (no movement history is maintained) and your identity is never known to the PulsePoint application.
It’s easy to set up – it just takes a user name and password.
Once you establish an account, you can review all of the City’s job descriptions and select any that you are interested in. If a position comes open and you’ve indicated an interest in it, we’ll send you an e-mail to let you know.
It’s a great way to keep informed of employment opportunities with the City!
For the app to be activated someone must first call the local emergency number (such as 911) to begin a normal public safety response. This means that the victim is likely not alone when the CPR/AED notifications are made. In addition, the app is only activated for incidents occurring in public places (not at someone’s home for example) furthering the likelihood that others will be present. Also, since the app is only activated on devices in the immediate vicinity of the victim, a “Bad Samaritan” has little opportunity to be in the right place at the right time
First of all, we are looking for candidates who meet or exceed the minimum qualifications of the job description so be sure to review that when applying for the job.
We’re also looking for strong customer service skills for all positions because that’s what we’re here to do – provide excellent service!
The purpose of the Good Samaritan Law is to protect individuals that assist a victim during a medical emergency. Most Good Samaritan laws are created specifically for the general public. The law assumes that there is no medically trained person available to assist the victim. Since the Good Samaritan typically does not have medical training, the law protects him or her from being liable from injury or death caused to the victim during a medical emergency. A general layperson is protected under the Good Samaritan laws as long as he or she has good intentions to aid the victim to the best of his or her ability during a medical emergency. Since each state law has specific guidelines, and this text does not provide a worldwide view of this matter, you should familiarize yourself with the laws or acts applicable to you. A typical example of the wording appears below.
“…a person, who, in good faith, lends emergency care or assistance without compensation at the place of an emergency or accident, and who was acting as a reasonable and prudent person would have acted under the circumstances present at the scene at the time the services were rendered, shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions performed in good faith.”
Yes. With dispatchers making rapid over-the-telephone assessments of patients based on the observations of untrained callers, an incorrect determination can be made. For example, such a situation could occur with someone who has just had a grand mal seizure, passed out from too much alcohol, or has a very high blood sugar. However, if you tried to do CPR on such an individual he or she would probably moan and possibly even try to push you away. Also, an AED would not deliver a shock to a person in any condition where an effective heartbeat was present
SFFR has a radio scanning and feeding dispatch and our tactical channels. We provide an official feed into Radio Reference. PulsePoint pulls the audio from there.
The CPR alert only works in jurisdictions where the app is deployed. Currently that would be 10 agencies and they are listed on the app for individuals to choose. You can adjust the alerts you sign up for at any time.