Smartphone App Could Help Heart Attack Victims In Burlco

MARLTON, NJ (CBS) -- So you learned CPR just in case. If you live in Burlington County, a new app for your smartphone might just let you put that training to good use.

The Pulse Point app could provide a critical heads-up in the event someone has a heart attack. The Virtua Health System is bringing the app to the region. It's activated by the county after someone calls 9-1-1 to ask for an ambulance.

Richard Miller, Virtua CEO, tells KYW Newsradio an alert is sent out to those who downloaded the app who are within 15 minutes of a heart attack victim.

"A person can respond who has CPR skills to the place where the patient is having that cardiac arrest and start CPR before basic life support arrives," Miller said.

You can go to www.pulsepoint.org to download the app, which for now works only in Burlington County.

Miller added, "We've actually had an initial discussion with Camden County and hopefully we're going to be able to get them in the same direction that we have Burlington County currently."

It should be noted the app does not summon help, so only someone with CPR training should download it. But Virtua is also planning to offer CPR training in Burlington County to expand the network of potential life savers.