Spokane and Spokane Valley Firefighters are now more equipped to help people during life threatening cardiac emergencies.
Spokane County is the third of four sites in the U.S. selected for a pilot program to utilize off-duty firefighters in response to cardiac arrest calls in both public and private places.
The Pulse Point App notifies CPR trained citizen volunteers when someone is experiencing a cardiac emergency in a public location.
Now, through the pilot program, firefighters will carry a defibrillator with them in their homes and cars, and will be notified if they're nearby a cardiac emergency.
“We're changing the way responders respond to help people completely,” said Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer.