Mason and Deerfield Township residents trained in CPR can now receive real-time alerts when someone nearby suffers cardiac arrest, after a free app expanded across Hamilton County on Thursday, Sept. 3.

The PulsePoint app, already used in Cincinnati for years, now covers all of Hamilton County. The app connects to the 911 system and sends automated alerts to registered users within a quarter mile of a reported cardiac arrest in a public space. It also directs them to the nearest automated external defibrillator, or AED.

Survival rates for cardiac arrest drop 7% to 10% for every minute without CPR, FOX19 reported. Emergency crews typically arrive in four to six minutes.

In 2025, the Hamilton County Emergency Communications Center fielded more than 600,000 calls for assistance, according to WLWT. About 7,000 were cardiac-related. Of those, 1,700 involved confirmed cardiac arrests requiring additional help.

Andy Neff, director of the Hamilton County Emergency Communications Center, said the rollout is also about raising awareness of AEDs in public places. He compared the goal to how people reach for a fire extinguisher during a fire.

"We want people to recognize that AEDs exist, much like how you think of a fire extinguisher," Neff said. "We don't have that same awareness with our public with AEDs yet, and we continue to try to raise that awareness …"

Steve Oughterson, fire chief of the Madeira & Indian Hill Joint Fire District, said users download the app, certify they are CPR-trained and willing to help, then select the types of incidents they want to respond to. The app also provides step-by-step CPR and AED instructions for users who are not formally trained.

Christ Hospital is funding the project, so no taxpayer dollars are involved, according to FOX19.

The app does not track or store personal information and only sends alerts for incidents in public spaces, not private residences. The Hamilton County Fire Chiefs Association announced the adoption through a press conference.

County leaders are encouraging local businesses to register their AEDs with the app so the devices can be located faster during emergencies. PulsePoint is available for free download on Apple and Android devices.