Neighborhood Aid App: Innovative Solution Planning to Safeguard Lives Through Timely Alerts - Neighborhood Rescuers - Uncovering the Life-Saving Potential of the Alert App
Saving Lives with a Tap: The First Aid App Revolution
When every second matters, it's the ordinary heroes who make a difference. Take a quick look at the training room of the Essen fire station, and you'll find firefighters, nursing staff, and medical professionals sharp and focused, learning to be potential lifesavers armed with first aid knowledge, smartphones, and a bit of fate.
In the not-too-distant future, they'll receive simultaneous alerts via an app if they happen to be nearby an emergency – forging an expanding network that's already proving itself, yet could be denser to be effective nationwide. This innovative approach to disaster response began back in 2013 with the launch of the "Mobile Retter" app, now connecting around 22,500 participants in nearly 40 cities across six federal states.
Seconds that Decide Life and Death
The dreadful reality is that more than 120,000 people nationwide experience sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital every year. Only one in ten survives – mainly due to the average nine-minute response time of emergency services. First aid apps, already adopted in Scandinavia and the Netherlands, can bridge that gap, according to experts from the Björn Steiger Foundation.
"After three minutes, the brain begins to die," explains Brand Inspector Jan Kuhlmann, responsible for Mobile Retter training at the Essen fire department. The concept of relying on Mobile Retters for quick assistance in cities is invaluable, Kuhlmann explains, providing a solution to the challenges posed by long distances in rural areas and dense traffic in urban environments.
Volunteer first aiders are key to this network of lifesavers. While many firefighters and medical professionals are registered as first aiders, education is not limited to a first aid course for a driver's license. "The control center must be sure that the person they send out can do it," says Kuhlmann.
The allure of this lifesaving idea came from the East Westphalian emergency physician Ralf Stroop, who realized he could have helped sooner if he had known about the emergency in time, a realizations that sparked the innovation.
Imitators and the Need for Standardization
Several imitators have emerged since then, such as "Region of Lifesavers," predominantly active in Baden-Württemberg, and "Corhelper" app integrating thousands of first aiders into the rescue chain. Schleswig-Holstein, however, boasts a statewide system.
Although there are various systems in use across the country, they lack shared standards and interoperability. "We all share the goal of saving lives," says Mobile Retter CEO Stefan Prasse, "but we need to ensure that the systems work together seamlessly."
Active volunteer management is another critical aspect, keeping participants engaged to make a real impact. Joint activities, networking via social media, and sharing success stories are some ways to connect the lifesaving community.
Emergency Medicine on Board
Emergency doctors support the first responder approach and advocate for legal anchoring in the rescue service framework. "First aid apps are the most effective means of improving survival chances in cardiac arrest," says Clemens Kill, director of the Center for Emergency Medicine in Essen and chairman of the German Society for Rescue Services and Prehospital Emergency Medicine (DGRN).
However, the rate of lay resuscitation in Germany is still behind other countries, despite numerous efforts to train schoolchildren. "We must integrate the entire 'blue light' family—including police officers and firefighters—into such first aider systems," demands Kill.
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- First aid
- Germany
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- Firefighters
- Apps
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- Scandinavia
Effectiveness of First Aid Apps
Evidence from similar apps in other European countries shows that average response time reductions range from 1 to 3 minutes in urban areas. In cardiac arrest emergencies, these minutes are crucial, as the probability of survival drops by approximately 10% per minute without CPR. The concept is widely supported by emergency physicians and integrated into public health strategies for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest management.
Research sources: [1] "First Aid Apps: A New Hope for Saving Lives during Sudden Cardiac Arrest." Björn Steiger Foundation, 2021, www.stiftung-steiger.de.[2] "Effective Utilization of Smartphone Technologies for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Management: A Review of Current Approaches and Emerging Opportunities." Resuscitation, vol. 166, 2020, pp. 128-138.[3] "Incorporating the Power of Community: The Role of First Aider Apps in Germany." Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 57, no. 4, 2021, pp. 550-555.
To effectively implement the lifesaving potential of first aid apps, there's a need to incorporate vocational training programs to equip volunteers with the necessary skills and knowledge. This could lead to a stronger correlation between the health-and-wellness sector, science (through research on app development and effectiveness), and technology (the creation and refinement of the apps).
Embracing the integration of various first aid training methods, such as those offered by the Mobile Retter, Region of Lifesavers, Corhelper, and others, into the conventional medical education system of schools, universities, and vocational institutions in Germany, could significantly enhance the overall effectiveness of first aid efforts and contribute to improved health-and-wellness outcomes across the country.
