The extra mile
March 2020
Helping to increase the chance of survival in cases of cardiac arrest
“The evidence is clear, providing quality CPR in the first few minutes following cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival for our patients.”
Dr Andy Smith, Executive Medical Director
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT).
The South Western Ambulance Charity is delighted to be supporting the partnership between SWASFT and GoodSAM to respond to life-threatening calls involving cardiac arrest. In just a few months since going live, over 600 volunteers have registered on the app.
The GoodSAM app alerts trained responders to cardiac arrest incidents in their local community, so that they can provide lifesaving support before ambulance crews arrive. We know that for every minute that a cardiac arrest patient doesn’t receive CPR or defibrillation, their chance of survival falls by 10%. The GoodSAM app is intended to increase the number of people who survive an out-of-hospital arrest.
“The GoodSAM app is a fantastic innovation, which means our community of volunteers can reach the most seriously ill patients sooner and help to save lives.
“Every second counts when it comes to cardiac arrest. That is why it is vital for these patients to receive intervention as early as possible.
“The app does not replace our ambulance response, but is an additional response to enhance the chance of survival for these patients. Once they arrive on scene, our crews work alongside the GoodSAM volunteer to provide lifesaving treatment.
“We continue to strive to improve the care we provide, and as GoodSAM responders continue to rush to the aid of their fellow citizens, more and more people will survive cardiac arrest.”
“The GoodSAM app is a fantastic innovation, which means our community of volunteers can reach the most seriously-ill patients sooner and help to save lives.”
Rhys Hancock, Clinical Lead
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT)