Ambulance Victoria area manager Amelia Kohn said the GoodSAM app was guaranteed to make you feel good and could mend broken hearts suffering from a cardiac arrest.
‘‘Every day 18 Victorian hearts stop beating and urgently need care to get them going again,’’ Ms Kohn said.
‘‘The good news is that anyone can save a life with the click of a button.’’
Ms Kohn said GoodSAM Responders received an alert on their smartphone when someone close by suffered a cardiac arrest.
‘‘Responders are given the location of the person in need of help, along with the nearest available automated external defibrillator, so they can start CPR immediately while an ambulance is on its way,’’ Ms Kohn said.
‘‘You don’t need be paramedic to make a difference and you can choose when you want to accept an alert, so there is no pressure to always respond.’’
Ms Kohn said many people weren’t aware they no longer had to do mouth-mouth resuscitation or know CPR to be a heart starter.
‘‘Just like the latest dating apps, CPR has come a long way and it’s easier to do now than ever before,’’ Ms Kohn said.
‘‘All you have to do is be willing and able to help a neighbour in need with hands-only CPR.
‘‘We’re calling on the generous Victorian spirit to get behind our goal to recruit an extra 5000 GoodSAMs across the state and be there in the critical moments of someone needing lifesaving support.’’
The free GoodSAM app is available on Google Play and via the App Store.
For information, visit heartrestarter.com.au
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