More lives are being saved thanks to a new mobile app being used by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT).

The GoodSAM app alerts trained responders to cardiac arrest incidents in their local community, so that they can provide lifesaving support before ambulance crews arrive.

For every minute that a cardiac arrest patient doesn't receive CPR or defibrillation, their chance of survival falls by 10%.

The GoodSAM app is intended to increase the number of people who survive an out-of-hospital arrest.

Following its launch by SWASFT earlier this year, GoodSAM has contributed towards various patients surviving cardiac arrest.

This includes one man surviving a cardiac arrest at his home in Exmouth in July, after a volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) received an alert through the app.

Rhys Hancock, SWASFT Clinical Lead (pictured), said: "The GoodSAM app is a fantastic innovation, which means our community of volunteers can reach the most seriously-ill patients sooner and help to save lives.

"Every second counts when it comes to cardiac arrest. That is why it is vital for these patients to receive intervention as early as possible.

"The app does not replace our ambulance response, but is an additional response to enhance the chance of survival for these patients. Once they arrive on scene, our crews work alongside the GoodSAM volunteer to provide lifesaving treatment.

"We continue to strive to improve the care we provide, and as GoodSAM responders continue to rush to the aid of their fellow citizens, more and more people will survive cardiac arrest."

The system automatically alerts off-duty frontline staff and community first responders to a cardiac arrest within 500m of their location.

If they accept an alert, the responder is given directions to the scene of the emergency, as well as information about the location of the nearest defibrillator.