New Mobile App Debuts In Missoula To Enhance CPR Response

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - When someone needs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), seconds count. That’s why Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmeier, City Councilor Stacie Anderson, and Missoula OEM staff were on hand Monday at the Glacier Ice Rink to Introduce PulsePoint, a free mobile app to bring patient and responder together rapidly.

Opening the press conference was Office of Emergency Management Director Adriane Beck.

OEM Director Adriane Beck Introduced Several Guest Speakers

“We are excited to be here today to announce a public launch of a life saving mobile application as well as an initiative that we are very privileged to be undertaking with all of our community partners,” began Beck. “In the room today we have our fire and EMS providers, as well as representatives from our city and county local government and our two major hospitals; Community Medical Center and St. Patrick Hospital.”

Beck pointed out the curious fact of why the press conference was being held in the very chilly confines of the Glacier Ice Rink, while figure skaters (including former Missoula Public Health Director Ellen Leahy) were practicing.

“Why we are here at Glacier Ice Rink is because what we know that this location has experienced a lot of sudden cardiac arrest instances,” she said. “They have a publicly available AED (automated external defibrillator), and it is one of the highest utilized public AEDs in all of Missoula, and so we thought this was a very appropriate venue to talk through what this app is, what it does and what our goals are.”

The app directs these potential rescuers to the exact location of the closest AED.

County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier Shared His Own Heart Attack Experience

Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier had a very personal reason for speaking at the press conference, his own heart attack.

“In 2018, I had a heart attack,” said Strohmaier. “What that experience taught me was three things. One; listen to your body. If something does not feel right, don't ignore it. Secondly, it taught me that Missoula is rich in great medical services and facilities. Thirdly, it taught me that had my situation been worse; had I actually had cardiac arrest, something like PulsePoint would have been immensely beneficial.”

READ MORE: Missoula Council Votes to Put $7 Million Fire Levy on the Ballot

A Federal Grant will help to Fund more CPR Training in Missoula

Beck said bringing the PulsePoint app, and the opportunity for more individuals to learn CPR, was made possible by a $60,000 federal grant.

“The reason that we were able to do this and that we're going to be able to do this over the next year and a half is that we were awarded a federal Homeland Security grant to increase our community's resilience and community preparedness,” she said. “That is the goal, so download the app, and turn the notifications on so that you can save a life. And at the end of the day, we will make Missoula a more resilient community.”

PulsePoint aims to improve cardiac arrest survival rates by activating nearby citizen responders to start CPR before emergency responders arrive when a cardiac emergency occurs in a public location. Missoula County said the goal is to train 20,000 residents in the first two years of the PulsePoint rollout. For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, a victim's chance of survival decreases by 7 to 10%.

Click here to get details on the PulsePoint App, and here to sign up for CPR training.