Ambulance service opens up life-saving app alerts to public responders
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) has announced that, as of 2 June 2025, trained members of the public registered with the GoodSAM Responder app, will be alerted to nearby cardiac arrest calls received by the 999 ambulance control room.
GoodSAM which stands for Good Smartphone Activated Medics, uses mobile GPS technology to notify the nearest available responder when a cardiac arrest occurs within 500 metres of their location. These responders can then begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the precious minutes before an ambulance arrives.
SWASFT currently has over 2,000 GoodSAM responders trained in CPR ready to be dispatched via the app to nearby cardiac arrests. This expansion in alerting now means any member of the public,who has a certified Basic Life Support qualification or completed the Resuscitation Council UK Lifesaver online training ( Lifesaver learning | Resuscitation Council UK ) can register to respond through the app. There is no expectation that a GoodSAM Responder will be carrying any equipment - the most important part is to cut down the time until CPR is started.
Jane Whichello, Head of Volunteering and Community Services at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: "This is a significant step forward in saving more lives as unfortunately survival rates for those experiencing an out of hospital cardiac arrest in the UK remain stubbornly low. Time is critical when somebody has a cardiac arrest, and the earlier good quality CPR begins, the better the chance of survival.
By including trained public responders in our GoodSAM network, we hope to strengthen the Chain of Survival which begins with early recognition of a cardiac arrest, and early, good quality, CPR. The Resuscitation Council UK has found that around 80% of cardiac arrests take place in the home. By registering with this app, members of the public trained in CPR would be alerted to neighbours and any cardiac arrest call within 500 metres. Although the proportion of cardiac arrests receiving bystander CPR is high in the South West - around 80% - its effectiveness could often be improved by trained individuals alerted through GoodSAM.
We often describe this as a ''virtual shout for help' - using technology to help get trained people to an incident very quickly to perform lifesaving CPR until an ambulance crew arrive."
The announcement also comes during Volunteers' Week, which recognises the invaluable contribution volunteers bring in supporting their communities. By opening up GoodSAM alerts to more trained individuals, SWASFT recognises and empowers those willing to step forward and help save lives.
How does it work?
When an emergency 999 call is received by SWASFT and is classified as a cardiac arrest, details will automatically be sent through to the GoodSAM app, which will then alert the nearest registered responders.
- If the responder is available, they can accept the alert via the GoodSAM app and will be able to see the location of the incident.
- If the responder is unable to accept the alert, they can decline it, and the next nearest responder will be alerted.
Who can register be a GoodSAM responder?
Anyone with a valid Basic Life Support qualification can register as a GoodSAM responder. Whether you're a nurse, doctor, paramedic, emergency care assistant, emergency ambulance associate, community first responder, volunteer doctor or a trained member of the public, you can play a vital role in helping to save lives.
If you are public registering you will need to choose 'GoodSAM' as your verifying organisation and SWASFT Volunteers and staff with Trust ID cards choose 'South Western Ambulance Service' as your verifying organisation.
To find out more or to register, visit the GoodSAM website or read the Good SAM FAQs.