Crime & Safety

San Ramon Valley Cardiac Arrest App Nominated For a Webby Award

The mobile application PulsePoint, which alerts people trained in CPR when someone has a cardiac arrest, was one of only five apps nominated for a Webby Award worldwide.

When San Ramon Valley Fire District Chief Richard Price helped to come up with the idea to create a mobile application to alert people of cardiac emergencies, he wanted to save lives, not win awards.

But last week the app, named PulsePoint and made by a Pleasanton-based nonprofit foundation, was one of only five mobile apps worldwide nominated for a Webby Award.

PulsePoint was nominated for what is probably the Internet's most distinguished award in the "Best Use of GPS or Location Technology" category. People can vote online for the "Webby People's Voice Award" by going here. The winners will be announced May 1.

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"This does bring some recognition to the team that made the application, but it also raises awareness of the foundation and brings some attention to the service, so that's great," said Price, who is also the President of the PulsePoint Foundation. 

PulsePoint alerts people trained in CPR if someone in a nearby public place has a sudden cardiac arrest. The application also directs people to the exact location of the closest publicly accessible automated external defibrillator.

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The app is currently available for people in the San Ramon Valley Fire District and San Jose, with many cities around the world lining up to have it for their communities.

One city is Toronto, which has 5,000 cardiac arrest deaths a year. Price said the app in Toronto will be scientifically studied by the Canadian government during a three-year clinical trial to test the apps effectiveness.

“Nominees like PulsePoint are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on mobile devices,” said David-Michel Davies, executive director of the Webby Awards. “It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the nearly 10,000 entries we received this year.”

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