Early CPR and early defibrillation using an AED give the best chance of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Brain damage begins within 4-6 minutes without oxygen, with brain death possibly occurring from 10 minutes.
By starting CPR early, the bystander contributes to the patient’s survival rate: without CPR, the casualty’s chances of survival fall 7 percent to 10 percent for every minute of delay until defibrillation.
In today's digital age, smartphones have become essential tools for many tasks, from looking up information to navigating our surroundings. It’s only natural that apps are now pivotal in enhancing community response during emergencies.
myResponder
The myResponder application was first developed in 2016 as a way to encourage the public to sign up as Community First Responders (CFRs) so as to provide early assistance for casualties suffering cardiac arrests.
The app was initially designed to provide alerts for nearby cardiac arrests within a 400m range, but has since included a radius of up to 1.5km. CFRs can also select their mode of response: by bicycle, vehicle or on foot.
Other notable functions include nearby fire alerts, emergency guides and community news.
SGSecure App
Also developed in 2016, the SGSecure app was created to enhance public preparedness for terrorism-related incidents. It encourages residents to be a Prepared Citizen, an Active Responder or a Mobiliser.
The app provides timely alerts and security updates, amongst other features. This includes, but is not limited to, a direct chat line with frontline officers via text for those that are unable to call ‘999’ during emergencies.
CPR Tempo
The recommended tempo for CPR compressions is 100-120 beats per minute, hard to maintain without audio cues and especially as the rescuer tires. This is why tools such as CPR playlists were created to provide rescuers with alternative methods of keeping on beat.
ER nurse and Army Reservist MAJ Don Kyle worked together with app developer Frozen Ape to create CPR Tempo, a specialised app designed with customisable timers for rhythm checks and epinephrine intervals.
In summary, these apps and tools are designed to enhance community responsiveness and effectiveness during emergencies, ultimately improving outcomes for those in need. We need only ensure that the apps are used regularly and wisely, rather than be kept for show only.
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