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Benefits of Implementing GoodSAM in Queensland

Implementing GoodSAM in Queensland could bring significant community health and safety benefits, especially around cardiac arrest response. Some of the key advantages:

1. Faster Immediate Response
   • GoodSAM leverages trained community responders (those with CPR / first-aid skills) who are nearby and willing to help. (ambulance.vic.gov.au)
   • By alerting these responders as soon as a 000 call is made, valuable CPR and potentially defibrillation can begin before paramedics arrive. (ambulance.vic.gov.au)
   • This early intervention is critical: every minute without CPR or defibrillation drastically reduces survival rates. (SA Ambulance Service)
2. Improved Survival Outcomes
   • Real-world data supports the life-saving impact: Ambulance Victoria’s research found that when a GoodSAM responder arrived before paramedics, survival to hospital discharge was 37% more likely. (ambulance.vic.gov.au)
   • Increased “bystander” CPR rates and faster access to AEDs (where available) improve outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. (ambulance.vic.gov.au)
3. Community Empowerment & Engagement
   • GoodSAM helps build a sense of community readiness — ordinary citizens become part of the chain of survival. (news.cfa.vic.gov.au)
   • It also encourages CPR training and awareness, which has broader public health benefits.
   • Volunteers feel more connected and useful; they can make a real difference in life-or-death situations. Real stories (e.g., a NSW GoodSAM volunteer saving their neighbour) highlight the power of having capable people nearby. (ABC)
4. Efficient Use of Resources
   • While ambulances are being dispatched, GoodSAM responders can begin life-saving interventions in parallel — effectively increasing “hands on deck” in the crucial first minutes. (Community First Responders Australia)
   • It’s a cost-effective way to enhance response capacity without necessarily increasing the number of professional paramedics.
5. Scalable and Technology-Driven 
   • The GoodSAM app is proven, globally deployed, and relatively easy to scale into new regions. (goodsamapp.org)
   • The app provides mapping to nearby AEDs, navigation, in-app metadata, and even a metronome to guide CPR cadence. (ambulance.vic.gov.au)
   • There’s a clear governance framework: GoodSAM has a Code of Conduct to ensure responders act safely, responsibly, and within their skill sets. (goodsamapp.org)
6. Risk Management & Safety 
   • Responders can choose whether or not to accept an alert, and they can drop a call if unsafe. (goodsamapp.org)
   • The code of conduct ensures that responders operate within their capabilities (e.g., basic life support, AED use) and prioritise their own safety. (goodsamapp.org)
   • There is formal expectation that responders keep their CPR skills current. (Community First Responders Australia)
7. Evidence-Based
   • The success in other Australian states (e.g., Victoria) provides a strong proof-of-concept for Queensland. (ambulance.vic.gov.au)
   • GoodSAM’s integration with EMS systems in other regions supports its viability in QLD.