MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Fire officials in Miami Beach have launched a new app that alerts those who know how to perform CPR that someone nearby needs help.
Media outlets report the Miami Beach Fire Department unveiled the PulsePoint Respond app Thursday.
The app empowers those who are CPR-trained to provide life-saving assistance to victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
City officials say odds are that those in the area can get to the scene before fire rescue, and seconds matter when it comes to the heart.
Miami Beach Fire Rescue medical director Dr. Fred Keroff says by starting CPR early, responders can help push blood to the brain, keeping the person alive until rescue crews can arrive.
The app, which is free and available on smartphones, also teaches people how to perform CPR.
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