Police officers restart over 100 hearts using cardiac arrest alerting app

Officers from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire (BCH) police forces have helped restart the hearts of over 100 people thanks to a voluntary cardiac arrest alerting service, utilising the GoodSAM app.

In partnership with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST), the service works by automatically triggering alerts when a 999 call is recorded as a possible cardiac arrest. These alerts sound on the mobile phones of first aid trained officers who are logged into GoodSAM and are within 800 metres of the incident.

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire police forces are the first in the UK to have integrated GoodSAM for cardiac arrest alerts. Over 500 police colleagues across BCH have responded to alerts to date, many of whom have administered life-saving CPR.

Speaking on behalf of the three forces, Chief Supt Jon Hutchinson, said: “As police officers we are dedicated to serving the public and protecting lives. We are delighted to have played a part in helping so many people who suffered a cardiac arrest. The outcome could have been very different if it wasn’t for the cardiac alert service and the quick actions of our colleagues who volunteered.”

The alert service bridges the gap between a 999 call being received and an ambulance arriving at the scene. For every minute that CPR is not administered following a cardiac arrest, the chance of fatality increases by 10 percent.

Officers across BCH receive cardiac alerts from 999 calls answered by EEAST. Recently, the initiative has been expanded to include East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and the London Ambulance Service (LAS), to allow off-duty colleagues living in neighbouring areas such as London, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, to attend incidents closer to home. 

Jo Fletcher, Associate Director for Urgent and Emergency Care Integration at EEAST, said: “This is a fantastic example how emergency services are working together to provide the best possible response to the public when they need us. In the event of a cardiac arrest, every minute counts and the sooner a patient can get medical help such as CPR, the better their chances of survival.

“I want to thank the dedicated police officers across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire who have gone above and beyond their duties in responding to nearby cardiac arrest calls.”

Prof Mark Wilson OBE, GoodSAM co-founder, added: “BCH police forces and EEAST have led the way restarting the hearts of over 100 people. Imagine the thousands of people that could be saved if this was replicated by forces and ambulance services across the UK (and beyond). We thank both their leadership and every officer who has so kindly volunteered.”

Find out more about the GoodSAM cardiac arrest alerting platform.

The 100 successful resuscitations milestone has been reached by the three police forces in the lead up to Restart a Heart Day (16 October), which raises awareness of cardiac arrests and CPR.

Learn how to save a life using CPR.