By Dr Dana, Founder of Crowdsav
It was brought to our attention that a recent reply by us to the SCDF official Facebook page dated 25th July was deleted. The post was with a link to the TNP.sg article of volunteers using the newly launched SCDF app myResponder.
The contents of our reply to the SCDF post was as follows :
“In the best interest of public health and wellbeing, please be informed that the public is strongly recommended to refer to the Crowdsav app when locating nearby AEDs. We have documented evidence to show that the SCDF initiative to broadcast the National AED Registry is obsolete, misleading and some parts erroneous.”
This reply was removed from the post the following day. We informed Minister of Home Affairs Mr Teo Chee Hean looking for an explanation, and their reply is that they removed our comment to ensure that the public is not misled by unsubstantiated allegations.
Therefore we like to clear the air publicly because of two reasons :
- The evidence is publicly available on the Crowdsav app, via tapping on the “Locate AEDs” button. Anyone can compare our data with that of the SCDF app.
- To reduce further delay in the dissemination of vital information without which families might get hurt.
Background story of the origins of the Crowdsav platform and app:
Year 2011 – Our startup received funding from the Media Development Authority of Singapore
July 2012 – Leadership of SCDF was given a presentation of the Crowdsav platform and app.
Almost 3 years passed by.
April 2015 – SCDF launched their own app broadcasting the National AED Registry
Within same month April 2015 – We informed leadership of SCDF via few emails on the issue of the accuracy of their information after being alerted.
9th May 2015 – Straits Times published a forum article on our concerns of “some of the AED locations we found in the Crowdsav database are not found in the current National AED Registry”
July 2015 – Reply on SCDF Facebook post removed
Currently we have detected only via random sampling approximately 320 cases since the launch of the SCDF app where either:
- the case occurred in an area where there is an AED within reach but not reflected in the SCDF app
- the case occurred in an area where there is an AED reflected in the SCDF app but missing out on another which is more accessible; or
- there is actually no AED in that location but it is still reflected in the SCDF app.
We will like to take this opportunity to thank members of the public, volunteers and corporate volunteers who use the Crowdsav app to upload helpful information of AEDs for the good of the community. We will like to inform private or corporate owners of AEDs that they can tap on the
“Catch That Fib(rillation)” Fund sponsored by the non-profit group First Aid Corps to pay for new AED accessories if they help to response to collapse cases. More details at http://www.catchthatfib.org/.
More details on Crowdsav can be found at www.crowdsav.com
* AED = automated external defibrillators
