Good Samaritans can now be guided to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to help them respond to people experiencing cardiac arrest, while they wait for paramedics to arrive.
The GoodSAM app works by alerting registered responders when someone near them goes into cardiac arrest and a Triple Zero (000) call has been received.
The app guides the volunteer to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while an ambulance is dispatched, buying precious time.
The incorporation of the NSW public access defibrillator registry into the free, life-saving GoodSAM app means responders will now be able to see if an AED is located near a person experiencing cardiac arrest and use it to improve that person’s chance of survival.
There are already over 4,300 AEDs on the GoodSAM AED registry.
Thirty lives have been saved thanks to the assistance of GoodSAM volunteers, with more than 7,300 people signing up to be responders.
Twelve of those 30 patients benefited from a lifesaving AED prior to the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics.
Thousands of Australians will experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year and statistics show that only 12 per cent of people who receive resuscitation survive.
In 2021, 9,273 cardiac arrest patients were attended across NSW.
In 2022, the NSW Government announced a $2.5 million partnership between NSW Ambulance and the GoodSAM responder app. To register, please visit: ambulance.nsw.gov.au/goodsam
Find more information about GoodSAM or to register as a responder.
You can register as a GoodSAM responder if you’re 18 years old or over, and able and willing to perform CPR.
Find out more about registering your AED with GoodSAM and watch the explainer video.
Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“AEDs alone don’t save lives, people with AEDs do.
“I encourage everyone who has an AED to register it online with NSW Ambulance so GoodSAM responders can see it in the app.
“It’s all well and good to have defibrillators around the community, but if people don’t know their location, they’re going to be of little help in a life and death situation.
“By guiding these volunteers to these devices, we can significantly improve the survival rate of people experiencing cardiac arrest.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Health & Regional Health Dr Michael Holland:
“Every minute counts when someone is in cardiac arrest and for every minute that a patient is in cardiac arrest and does not receive CPR, their chance of survival drops by seven to ten per cent.
“The survival rate improves significantly if chest compressions begin in the first few minutes and improves significantly if an AED is also utilised.”
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dominic Morgan:
“This publicly accessible network of over 4,300 AEDs registered with the GoodSAM app in NSW will help responders provide life-saving care to people experiencing cardiac arrest before paramedics arrive.
“The addition of the NSW AED registry to the GoodSAM app delivers increased capability to the Triple Zero (000) connected GoodSAM program to save more lives right across the state.”