EEAST has joined forces with Hertfordshire Constabulary to roll out the life-saving GoodSAM scheme so that people who suffer a cardiac arrest get help as soon as possible.
The scheme, which went live in late May, allows frontline officers, PCSOs, specials, and first aid trained staff to voluntarily attend nearby incidents where somebody is in suspected cardiac arrest so that they can start CPR until an ambulance arrives.
GoodSAM app
Officers are notified via the GoodSAM app on their phone, which omits a loud wailing sound when they are within 800 meters of a suspected cardiac arrest patient that has been reported to the ambulance service via 999. Chief Superintendent Dean Patient said, “We are pleased to be involved in this fantastic initiative that undoubtedly has the potential to save lives."
“For each minute that passes where CPR is not being given to someone suffering cardiac arrest, chances of survival drop by ten percent, and if our officers or a suitably first aid trained staff member are close by they can begin the first aid process and possibly save someone’s life.”
Scheme Results
The scheme has already had a positive result in Watford when an off-duty officer responded to a cardiac alert
The scheme has already had a positive result in Watford when an off-duty officer responded to a cardiac alert where he discovered a female had collapsed.
He established that she had no pulse and began CPR. When paramedics arrived, the patient regained a pulse and was taken to the hospital for further treatment.
Life-saving initiative
Nicholas Jones, IM&T Service Delivery Manager (Clinical Applications) with EEAST, said, “We are delighted to be working with our blue light partners at Hertfordshire Constabulary to further roll out this life-saving initiative."
"It will increase the number of trained first aiders who can respond to our most seriously-ill patients and begin delivering CPR until our crews arrive, which can make all the difference with a cardiac arrest where every minute counts."
providing advanced treatment
“It’s important to stress that GoodSAM is not a replacement for the emergency ambulance response, but an additional resource which will help us to further improve the service we provide to our patients."
"Our crews will continue to be dispatched in the same way and will work alongside the GoodSAM volunteer to provide advanced treatment as soon as they arrive on the scene, in turn giving the patient the best possible chance of a good outcome.”
