As Heart Month begins, the Cincinnati Fire Department (CFD) and Emergency Communications Center (ECC) are highlighting simple but life-saving ways to make our homes and neighborhoods more heart-safe. In partnership with UC Health, CFD and ECC are proud to highlight PulsePoint as an important resource for protecting our community and Smart911 as another year-round option for emergency preparedness.  

Using Technology and Bystander Intervention to Help Those in Need

“Heart Month is deeply personal for me,” stated Fire Chief Frank McKinley. “After experiencing a cardiac episode in 2024, I have an even greater appreciation for how critical those first moments are in a cardiac emergency. Tools like PulsePoint and Smart911, combined with CPR training and community involvement, truly save lives—and I encourage every Cincinnati resident to take these simple steps to help protect one another.”  

Using Technology and Bystander Intervention to Help Those in Need

Victims of sudden cardiac arrest face an 11% survival rate, but those chances of survival can double or triple if they receive immediate medical assistance through CPR or the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). You can make a difference during an emergency by using the PulsePoint AED or PulsePoint Respond app and by learning CPR and first-aid to step in when others are in need. PulsePoint AED users can locate and register AEDs in their community so that these life-saving devices are more easily accessible to professional first responders, CPR or AED-trained bystanders or 911 callers. The PulsePoint Respond app connects bystanders to victims of sudden cardiac arrest in their immediate area when they can provide medical assistance before emergency personnel arrive. These apps are both free to download and use, you can learn more about PulsePoint by visiting www.cincinnati-oh.gov/ecc/aed-registry/ or pulsepoint.org.  

“ECC is the front door to emergency response, and better information leads to better outcomes.” said ECC Director Bill Vedra “PulsePoint helps our teams and first responders by improving awareness of AED locations and alerting trained bystanders who can begin care immediately, while Smart911 helps get critical information to our 911 operators in the moment when it’s needed most. That kind of community-enabled response, backed by strong partnerships across the City and with organizations like PulsePoint and UC Health, saves lives.” 

Working Together to Build a Heart-Safe Cincinnati

You can make sure your household is better prepared during an emergency by creating a Smart911 Safety Profile and including medical conditions or household information first responders can use to better assist you during an emergency. When someone calls 911 with an active Smart911 Safety Profile, this information becomes instantly available to the 911 operator who can relay it to dispatchers and first responders. This data is stored securely and is only visible when users call 911. Learn more at www.cincinnati-oh.gov/ecc/smart911/ 

Together, these tools demonstrate how technology, preparedness, and community involvement can save lives. During Heart Month and throughout the year, CFD and ECC encourage Cincinnatians to take simple steps that can make a critical difference: learning CPR, registering and locating AEDs through PulsePoint or signing up for PulsePoint Respond, and creating a Smart911 Safety Profile. By working together before an emergency arises, we all can make Cincinnati stronger and a safer place to live and thrive.