Become a Cardiac Responder and save a life in your community

The chances of surviving a cardiac arrest on the street is approximately 8%. In Heathrow Airport it is over 80%. That’s because air crew are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and there is a defibrillator at every other gate. 

Each minute without CPR following a cardiac arrest, reduces someone’s chance of survival by 10%. 

We are asking you to help more people in your neighbourhood survive a cardiac arrest by becoming a GoodSAM Cardiac Responder alongside your role as an NHS Volunteer Responder. 

GoodSAM works with ambulance services across the UK, alerting people trained in CPR to nearby cardiac arrests while an ambulance is on the way. We have over 100,000 Cardiac Responders who, between them, save many lives each year – and the more we have the more lives we can save. 

Our ambition is to have a Cardiac Responder on every street, which is why we are inviting all NHS Volunteer Responders who are trained in CPR, or would like to be, to sign up as GoodSAM Cardiac Responders. 

Register Here

Key Information

  • This is about helping people in your neighbourhood and you will only be alerted to cardiac arrests within a few hundred metres of where you live.
  • Most Cardiac Responders only receive 2 alerts a year.
  • You do not have to be “On-duty” to receive Cardiac Arrest notifications.
  • You are only asked to provide CPR and to use a defibrillator if one is available.
  • If you receive an alert and are unable to respond, that’s fine, the next nearest person will be alerted.
  • An ambulance will also be on the way.
  • The ambulance services control who they alert (staff; professionals; volunteers with first aid certification; self-certifying volunteers) and over what radius.
  • You will need to agree to our Code of Conduct.
  • More information can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions.

GoodSAM Cardiac Responders are managed by GoodSAM directly. But you will remain an NHS Volunteer Responder, able to accept tasks to fit around your lifestyle as you do now. 

Don’t worry if this is not for you. You will only be alerted to these medical emergencies if you sign up as a Cardiac Responder. 

To be alerted as a trained Cardiac Responder, you will be asked to upload evidence of first aid training such as a valid first aid certificate or workplace ID if CPR training is a condition of your employment, (eg doctor, nurse, police officer, fire fighter). If you haven’t been trained or don’t have an in-date certificate, you can still register, and we will be in touch with training opportunities shortly. You won’t receive Cardiac Responder alerts until you have been trained. 

Email GoodSAM at info@goodsamapp.org if you have any questions. 

GoodSAM has saved hundreds of lives through earlier CPR and defibrillator use. We hope you can join our fantastic community of Cardiac Responders and help save lives.

Register Here