Business & Tech

Don't Know CPR? There Is An App for That

Jim Schatzle looked at the statistics and his own experiences, and decided to start saving lives with his CPR app for mobile devices.

Jim Schatzle has been saving lives since he was 16 years old. Now, he makes a living with AED training and support as well as CPR training.

But the former Colts Neck Mayor said after years of experience on the local First Aid Squad, he was sick of telling people that their loved ones had died on the scene of cardiac arrest.

"Most people don't get CPR prior to the ambulance arriving," he said. "I have that speech down very well, and I'm tired of it."

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So Schatzle created a lifesaving application, Team Life CPR, for mobile devices, a one-touch program that guides people step-by-step through performing CPR, complete with a voiceover and video guide in real time.

Schatzle said he has taught thousands CPR for certifications, but he wanted to reach more.

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"I thought 'There has to be a way to get this information to them.'"

An idea that began around three years ago came to fruition in January, giving people a way to begin administering CPR prior to an ambulance arriving. Schatzle said cardiac arrest comes with staggering statistics.

Every 90 seconds, someone dies from cardiac arrest. Only 5 percent survive, Schatzle said. 70 percent experience cardiac arrest in their home.

On average, it could take an ambulance up to ten minutes to reach a patient. Ten minutes without oxygen is the body's limit, and often when biological death is reached.

"It is a needless, preventable death," he said.

The application, available in Apple and Android and Blackberry markets, shows Schatzle performing CPR on a patient. It counts compressions and guides the user through technique including how hard to press and how many breaths to give.

"It is all about empowering people to do this, a lot of people don't perform CPR because they don't think they can," Schatzle said. 

The $1.99 application also has the ability to be updated as CPR techniques are updated in the medical profession. The prize, Schatzle said, is significantly less than the $50 per person CPR training classes, and can serve as a reminder even for those with certification.

"Now there will be tens of thousands of people with lifesaving information."

Schatzle's next move is to create a pediatric and infant CPR application. However, the current app provides correct information for all ages. Compressions for any age should be performed at a 1/3 depth.

June 1 to the 8 is CPR and AED Awareness week, but Schatzle said that when it comes to the heart, we should be thinking about it every week of the year.

"We want this to be as important to people as an entertainment app or productivity app," Schatzle said. "You always have your phone, why not have a lifesaving app on it?"

View the application in action.

Purchase the application on the Android, Apple or Blackberry market.


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