Being Agile When It Really Matters: How ICT can Facilitate Rapid Response to Cardiac Emergencies

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death is a serious public health issue in Ireland, especially within rural communities that cannot be quickly reached by emergency ambulance services. When a person suffers a cardiac arrest, it is vital to invoke the "chain of survival" process, involving early access to the emergency services hotline, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced paramedic support. It is vital that this process be executed quickly and efficiently. This paper proposes ideas on how the early stages of the "chain of survival" may potentially be enhanced and made more agile and responsive through the application of innovative ICT solutions designed in accordance with principles of interactive systems design and based on the new generation of mobile applications such as location-aware devices and social networking software.