The GoodSAM app is a smartphone app that is contributing to saving the lives of individuals experiencing cardiac arrest across the world. It is in use in the UK and Australia.

The app can be downloaded and used by individuals that have verified training in Basic Life Support (BLS), who wish to be listed as a volunteer responder.

Once downloaded, the responder links the app to their local participating ambulance service. If the ambulance call centre receives a call where it is suspected that an individual is in cardiac arrest, an alert is sent to all local individuals that are registered with the app and listed as 'on duty' (available) at that time. If a responder is available, they accept the alert, they are sent the location, and they get there as soon as they can and start delivering hands-only CPR.

This means that members of the public in cardiac arrest may start receiving CPR within moments, whilst they wait for the NHS ambulance to arrive.

Volunteer responders may work a day job in healthcare, for examples a nurse, doctor or paramedic, or may have BLS training as part of a volunteer role, for example with Scouts or Guides. Or, they have done BLS training at college or work.

Facts about CPR

• The letters CPR stand for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• It is a basic first aid procedure that can be used to keep someone alive until the emergency medical services can get to the scene.
• The most important skills are chest compressions to pump blood around the body, and rescue breaths to provide oxygen.
• Hands-only CPR does not use rescue breaths.
• Effective CPR more than doubles the chance of someone surviving a cardiac arrest.
• In the UK fewer than 10% of all the people in whom a resuscitation attempt is made outside hospital survive.

Chain of Survival

• When all the stages in the Chain of Survival take place promptly, the survival figures are very much better.
• This is possible where the arrest is recognised immediately, bystanders perform CPR, and an automated defibrillator is used before the ambulance service arrive.
• Survival rates in excess of 50% have been reported under these circumstances.