The Hampton Fire Department is the latest locality to implement Pulse Point, a CPR lifesaving app which shows the location of someone having a heart attack.
“When dealing with sudden cardiac arrest, every minute is critical,” said Kapua Conley, president of Sentara CarePlex Hospital. “PulsePoint empowers the citizens of Hampton to provide life-saving assistance until emergency response teams arrive on the scene.”
The app is not available to the public as of yet and is still in the test stage, said Anthony Chittum, the city’s fire chief.
The launch date is unknown, he noted.
In addition, the Pulse Point app also includes the locations of AEDs and is free to download for both iPhone and Android users.
Last year, Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach started using Pulse Point.
Barbara Morrison, spokeswoman for Virginia Beach, said it did not cost the city anything to implement the app.
“It’s a really good program,” said Damon Langley, spokesman for the Norfolk Fire Department.
Langley added the app took some time to implement since there were concerns about its security. There are two versions of the app, one displays business locations and the second, shows the address of your neighbors.
In York County, the fire department plans to implement the app as well and is working with Williamsburg, James City County and other members of the Greater Williamsburg Heartsafe Alliance.
“It’s not been formally announced yet,” said York County Fire Chief Steve Kopczynski.
So far, the other localities use the first version of the app, but it’s unclear what version Williamsburg, York County and James City County will use.
“We’re still working on the parameters –– we have not finalized it yet,” Kopczynski said, adding it will likely not include the addresses of residents.
