Local Initiative Seeks to Combat Sudden Cardiac Arrest
A community health initiative is underway in Saratoga County to promote awareness and use of the PulsePoint Respond app and improve response to sudden cardiac arrest.
The project is being led by Maclaine Matties, a registered nurse and Doctor of Nursing Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP/FNP) student at Sacred Heart University, in collaboration with EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy.
PulsePoint Respond is a free smartphone application that alerts CPR-trained individuals when a suspected cardiac arrest occurs in a nearby public location, helping to bridge the critical gap between the onset of a cardiac emergency and the arrival of emergency medical services. The application connects trained responders to nearby emergencies, supporting faster intervention when every minute matters.
This project focuses particularly on encouraging nurses in the community to enroll in the application, while also welcoming participation from all Saratoga County residents trained in CPR. Although nurses are well-prepared to respond in emergency situations, fewer than thirty registered nurses in the community are currently signed up to receive PulsePoint alerts. Expanding participation among healthcare professionals and community members can strengthen emergency response and improve cardiac arrest outcomes.
PulsePoint is a public, nonprofit foundation that develops mobile applications designed to increase community involvement in emergency response and improve public safety awareness.
Sudden cardiac arrest affects more than 300,000 people outside of hospitals each year in the United States. Early CPR can significantly improve survival, but many victims do not receive immediate bystander assistance before emergency responders arrive.
More information and instructions for signing up are available at: