First Responder 1R – Connecting Trained Volunteers to Save Lives Faster
Healthcare and Life Sciences
Challenge
Every minute matters when someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest – yet professional emergency services can’t always arrive in time. Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in Poland. In cases of sudden cardiac arrest, just a few minutes can separate a victim from irreversible damage. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) significantly improve survival chances compared to situations where no intervention is provided. The lack of an efficient system to link trained First Responders with nearby emergencies and AED defibrillators meant precious time was being lost.
The client’s goal:
The Association of Volunteer Fire Brigades of the Republic of Poland sought a solution that could:
Rapidly connect trained First Responders with sudden incidents
Reduce average first aid response times to under five minutes
Locate and guide responders to the nearest AED defibrillator
Support real-time communication and incident updates
Operate at nationwide scale with reliable, secure infrastructure
Outcome
Endava, in collaboration with the Lean Medic Foundation and Google Cloud Poland, developed and delivered the Pierwszy Ratownik (First Responder) mobile app and supporting cloud platform. The system can connect hundreds of thousands of trained volunteers to nearby emergencies in real time, helping to bridge the gap before professional services arrive. By enabling faster intervention, the goal is to raise Poland’s out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest survival rate (currently around 5–8%) to approximately 30% – potentially saving thousands of lives every year.
The result delivered:
Cloud-native platform on Google Cloud
A scalable, cloud-native platform built on Google Cloud, ensuring high availability and secure operations.Real-time alerting and location tracking
Built in Kotlin with Jetpack Compose, the Android app uses Google Maps, Firebase Cloud Messaging, and reactive programming to deliver instant, location-based incident alerts.AED mapping and routing
Interactive map shows the nearest AED devices with turn-by-turn navigation, including community-powered availability updates.Dual activation paths
Flexible activation options enable both citizens and emergency dispatchers to alert nearby responders, maximising reach and speed.
Designed to improve patient outcomes and emergency response effectiveness, this technology helps get trained volunteers where they’re needed most – when every second counts.