The use of trained volunteers in the response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest - the GoodSAM experience

Christopher M Smith; Mark H Wilson; Ali Ghorbangholi; Christopher Hartley-Sharpe; Carl Gwinnutt; Bridget Dicker; Gavin D Perkins

doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2017.10.020

The use of trained volunteers in the response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest - the GoodSAM experience

Resuscitation. 2017 Dec:121:123-126. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2017.10.020. Epub 2017 Oct 24.

Authors

Christopher M Smith¹, Mark H Wilson², Ali Ghorbangholi³, Christopher Hartley-Sharpe⁴, Carl Gwinnutt⁵, Bridget Dicker⁶, Gavin D Perkins⁷

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Trials Unit, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, London, W2 1NY, UK.
³ GoodSAM, 1 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3JX.
⁴ London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, 18-20 Pocock Street, London, SE1 0BW, UK.
⁵ Resuscitation Council UK, Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HR, UK.
⁶ St John, Auckland, New Zealand; Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁷ Clinical Trials Unit, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.

PMID: 29079507
DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2017.10.020

Abstract

In England, fewer than 1 in 10 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survive to hospital discharge. This could be substantially improved by increasing bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator use. GoodSAM is a mobile-phone, app-based system alerting trained individuals to nearby cardiac arrests. 'Responders' can be notified by bystanders using the GoodSAM 'Alerter' function. In London, when a 999 call-handler identifies cardiac arrest, in addition to dispatching the usual professional resources, London Ambulance Service automatically activates nearby GoodSAM responders. This article discusses the development of GoodSAM, its integration with London Ambulance Service, and the plans for future expansion.

MeSH terms

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*
Cell Phone*
Electric Countershock
Emergency Medical Services / methods*
Humans
London / epidemiology
Mobile Applications*
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / mortality
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / therapy*
Program Development
Time-to-Treatment
Volunteers*

Grants and funding

British Heart Foundation/United Kingdom