New Ambulance Victoria app to call on people trained in first aid before paramedics arrive
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Members of the public trained in first aid will be able to respond to triple-0 emergencies with the help of a new app being developed by Ambulance Victoria.
The technology would allow off-duty paramedics, medical professionals and members of the public with first aid training to respond to emergency calls involving a suspected cardiac arrest.
When a triple-0 call came in, the technology would pinpoint the person's location using their phone location through the app.
The responder would then be dispatched along with the closest ambulance.
Ambulance Victoria's Ian Patrick said providing CPR as early as possible improved the patient's chance of survival.
"I think the whole community benefits, because this will help make them more resilient in times of emergency while they wait for an ambulance," he said.
"We want to strengthen the chain of survival for that event by having early CPR and early defibrillation."
Victoria's Health Minister Jill Hennessy has given her full support to the initiate, which is out to tender.
"We know that if you're having a heart attack, every second and every minute makes a difference between whether or not you are likely to live or die," she said.
"Whilst our ambulance response times are improving after years of being in rapid decline, we also know that there are many people in bystander situations that have medical and emergency medical experience.
"In many countries overseas they've used a similar initiative and they've been very successful."
Topics: health, government-and-politics, vic
