By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Ellis County EMS is mapping the locations of Automated External Defibrillators across the county using an app.
The PulsePoint AED app, available for download on iOS and Android, maps community AED locations and alerts trained responders to nearby emergencies.
Ellis County EMS Director Danita Schroeder said the Kansas Board of EMS adopted the app in January 2024, emphasizing its potential to save lives.
“If you have CPR done early, then somebody arrives with an AED, and they’re able to give that shock and restart the heart, your chances of survival are so much greater with that,” Schroeder said.
The app monitors users' locations and sends alerts when a nearby AED is needed, assisting first responders in quickly accessing the devices.
Schroeder said the map does not show all AEDs in the area, as private units designated for staff use may not be publicly accessible.
"For instance, the Kansas Highway Patrol has one in their office, but they're a police entity, and it's not really open to the public," she said.
Businesses and public spaces can obtain AEDs without special permission. Schroeder said many organizations secure them through grants, while others purchase them for home use.
Each county appoints an administrator to oversee AED tracking, with Schroeder managing the process in Ellis County.
Businesses and organizations can list their AEDs on the PulsePoint website.
The app includes features like CPR and AED instructions. Ellis County EMS also provides AED training and offers CPR classes throughout February for American Heart Month.
SEE RELATED STORY: Ellis County EMS to host CPR classes this month in Hays