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Solano County adds PulsePoint to dispatch notifications to alert trained bystanders and show public safety incidents
Summary
The county connected PulsePoint to Solano dispatch to notify CPR-trained bystanders and display fire/medical call information; the system also will register AEDs and offer public-interest alerts tied to the county’s CAD feed.
Solano County announced live deployment of PulsePoint, a public-safety mobile application that can notify CPR-trained bystanders and display public‑interest fire and medical incident alerts tied to the county’s 9‑1‑1 dispatch system.
Emergency Services Manager Robin Raines and EMS Coordinator Scott Wagness told the Board of Supervisors the county has connected Solano dispatch (SCECC) to PulsePoint so app users who sign up will receive near‑real‑time alerts when a cardiac arrest or other qualifying medical or fire incident happens near them. Wagness described the typical use case: when a 9‑1‑1 caller reports a cardiac arrest, PulsePoint pushes a notification to registered responders in the immediate area and displays nearby registered automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
“PulsePoint would send out an alert, my phone would vibrate and says, hey, there's a cardiac arrest 10 feet away from you. Go get an AED,” Wagness said during the presentation. County staff said the app will show a general location of an incident and not private medical details; public‑interest alerts will provide summary information such as smoke investigations or evacuations.
How it works: PulsePoint has two apps — a red “Respond / AED” app for CPR responders and AED registration and a separate feed for public incident alerts. The county uploaded county‑owned AED locations into the PulsePoint database and said departments and community groups can register additional AEDs. Solano dispatch will only send PulsePoint notifications for calls handled by the integrated CAD (the county’s dispatch center and any jurisdictions that sign a connection agreement).
Scope and coverage: The county’s connection covers the Solano dispatch service area (including unincorporated areas and several jurisdictions that dispatch through SCECC). The presenters noted not every city or fire district automatically participates; jurisdictions that maintain independent PSAPs must request their own CAD connection.
Board reaction and guidance: Supervisors recommended linking download instructions to the county website, and staff said they would add PulsePoint resources to solanocounty.gov. Wagness and Raines encouraged residents — particularly people trained in CPR, first‑aid volunteers and facility staff at large venues — to download the app and register for alerts.
End note: County presenters said PulsePoint is a supplement to, not a replacement for, 9‑1‑1 dispatch CPR instructions. Supervisors and staff said the tool can improve bystander CPR rates and AED access, especially in higher-density locations where early defibrillation and CPR save lives.
