Frisco, CO Sept 12, 2025— Starting Hearts and Summit County’s public safety agencies announce the adoption of PulsePoint in Summit County to further our collective commitment to creating a healthy and civically engaged community. PulsePoint is a free-to-download mobile app, which in cooperation with Summit County 911 Dispatch alerts CPR-trained citizens of cardiac events in their vicinity so they may administer aid while awaiting EMS to arrive, informs the community of emergency activity in real time, and maintains an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) registry.
Pulse Point Summit County is being implemented by generous grants from both BGV Gives, the philanthropic arm of Breckenridge Grand Vacations, and Common Spirit Hospital.
PulsePoint Respond empowers everyday citizens to provide life‐saving assistance to victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). PulsePoint Respond app subscribers who have indicated they are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and willing to assist in case of an emergency can be notified if someone nearby is having a SCA and may require CPR. If the cardiac emergency is in a public place, the location-aware application will alert users in the vicinity of the need for CPR simultaneous with the dispatch of advanced medical care. The application also directs these potential citizen rescuers to the exact location of the closest AED.
The companion app, PulsePoint AED, allows citizens to upload new AED locations, which are then approved by local EMS personnel. Once AEDs are confirmed, they can then be viewed by anyone using the free PulsePoint AED app, or the PulsePoint Respond app.
“With PulsePoint we hope to increase bystander involvement in time-sensitive cardiac emergency related calls by increasing the use of CPR and AEDs”, said Jackie Christiansen, Starting Hearts Summit County Director. “It gives our residents and visitors the ability to know when a cardiac arrest is occurring close by, locate AEDs in the area, and perform potentially lifesaving CPR while EMS personnel respond to the scene. “
Jim Levi, Division Chief of EMS at Red White & Blue noted, “In addition to nearby ‘CPR-needed’ notifications, PulsePoint subscribers who follow Summit County can see the fire department’s emergency activity in their area. This function allows users to be informed about local threats such as wildland fires, flooding, and utility emergencies. Improving situational awareness with PulsePoint can help build safer and more informed communities.”
“Summit County has a vibrant and involved community who care for their neighbors. PulsePoint is a great extension and reflection of that community involvement”, stated Michael Berry, Director, Summit County 911 Dispatch.
"The Pulse Point Respond app is a game-changer for Summit County, as every second counts in a medical emergency," expressed Summit Fire & EMS Division Chief, Lou Laurina. “While our crews are on their way, a CPR-trained bystander can be a critical link in the chain of survival; the sooner a person receives chest compressions and an electrical shock from an AED, the greater their chance of survival. This technology is a testament to our community’s commitment to helping one another, and I encourage all residents and visitors to download the app and learn CPR.”
Justine Zawatski, BGV Gives Philanthropy Manager expressed support by saying, “Starting Hearts has been a critical partner and resource to Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV) for more than 8 years, and the Summit County Community for far longer. Heart health is at the core of BGV Gives' mission and the overall well-being of our community, including 600+ BGV employees, our nonprofit partners, owners, and guests. AEDs provided by Starting Hearts have saved lives at BGV properties. We have also had the opportunity to work with Starting Hearts leadership to ensure schools, sports teams, and other community programs can benefit from AEDs, CPR classes, and educational programs. We believe a well-prepared community is better for us all. Making PulsePoint free to community members further ensures that everyone can play an active role in life-saving medical care. Thank you to Starting Hearts for your tireless commitment to saving lives across Summit County and for making this resource available and accessible to all.”
Nathan Love, Director of Surgical Services, Mission Integration for St. Anthony Summit Hospital commented, "CommonSpirit St Anthony Summit Hospital is proud to lead the charge with a donation to bring the transformative Pulse Point App to Summit County. This initiative perfectly aligns with CommonSpirit Health's mission to advance health for all and our core value of compassion, ensuring that in critical moments, every individual in our community has the immediate resources to save a life. By empowering Summit County with the tools to act, we are not just investing in technology; we are investing in the dignity and well-being of every person and fostering a more just and responsive healthcare environment right here in our community."
According to the American Heart Association, such community programs could increase bystander CPR and AED use to the roughly 400,000 cardiac arrests that happen outside the hospital each year. With the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrests in the US being just 9%, and the Front Range a dismal 6%, Summit County EMS agencies are doing all they can to increase these numbers locally.
These efforts include regular High-Performance CPR practice by Summit County’s Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement personnel which focuses on improving response and coordination during low-frequency, high-acuity medical emergencies like cardiac arrest, ensuring crews remain sharp, responsive, and ready. Since they respond to critical cardiac emergencies side by side, the agencies also train together, not only to strengthen their lifesaving skills, but also to build the trust and teamwork necessary to deliver seamless care to both the community and its visitors.
Local nonprofit, Starting Hearts knows the importance of bystander CPR and use of an AED, and offers free monthly CPR classes to the community, as well as Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid certification classes. The survival rate for a sudden cardiac arrest victim increases by 10% for each minute that a bystander performs CPR while emergency medical services are enroute. Because of these local efforts, Summit County experiences one of the highest survival rates in the nation.
About the PulsePoint Foundation
PulsePoint is a public, 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that builds applications for use by public safety agencies to increase community awareness during critical events. The PulsePoint Respond mobile app notifies trained individuals of the nearby need for CPR and the PulsePoint AED registry identifies AED (automated external defibrillator) locations for use
About BGV Gives
BGV Gives to the Community by fostering transformational partnerships and connecting Breckenridge Grand Vacations, its employees, and donors with local nonprofits to create lasting community impact.
About CommonSpirit St Anthony Summit Hospital
St. Anthony Summit Hospital is a Level III trauma center serviced by Flight For Life® Colorado and nationally recognized for excellence in patient satisfaction. We provide a full range of medical specialties and health care services to Summit County and the surrounding areas.
