More than Statistics

Jim and Alexandra Stears were at home when Jim suddenly went into cardiac arrest while watching TV. Luckily, their neighbor is Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Lt. Jason Morgan, who was at home when he received a PulsePoint Professional Responder alert on his phone indicating that CPR was needed at a private residence...next door. Morgan retrieved his Philips AED, which he obtained through the PulsePoint Professional Responder pilot program, and made his way to the Stears' home, with his wife and son by his side. When Alexandra opened the door she was initially surprised by EMS' quick response, but then soon realized it was her neighbor and later remarked, "Oh, that's good. He's got the right training." Jim went on to make a full recovery after receiving high-quality CPR and a shock from the defibrillator, all before crews arrived.

Pilot Program Leverages Off-Duty Professional Firefighters, Technology and Defibrillators to Save Lives

Each year, approximately 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital setting in the United States. Nearly 90 percent of these events prove fatal, and the chance of survival decreases by ten percent with every passing minute without CPR.* Though survival rates in the Northwest exceed the national average, a coalition of professional first responders, clinicians, researchers and a leading medical equipment manufacturer aim to make the region the frontrunner in cardiac arrest response and survival. The PulsePoint Foundation, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, International Association of…