LONDON: Snapchat on Thursday launched a new augmented reality lens that teaches users how to perform CPR.
Ahead of World Restart a Heart Day on Oct. 16, Snapchat partnered with the Global First Aid Reference Centre and social technology agency GoSpooky to create the new augmented reality experience that teaches the fundamentals of CPR.
The new lens “aims to educate users on the vital steps to take should they enter an emergency situation and allows them to learn the fundamentals of CPR step by step. The whole experience can be repeated to aid learning,” the companies said in a joint statement.
The AR experience, available in more than 10 languages including English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Sweden, Japanese, Hindi and Norwegian, aims to raise awareness of the life-saving importance of CPR in emergency situations.
“Released globally and available in 10 languages, the new lens uses Snap’s world leading augmented reality technology to go beyond reading about the techniques and showing them (users) in a true-to-life example how to perform the lifesaving procedures,” the statement added.
The new Snapchat feature is a practical tool to provide training and inform users about the value of CPR, which if performed early during an emergency, can dramatically increase the chances of someone surviving cardiac arrest.
According to the Global First Aid Reference Centre, seven-in-10 cardiac arrests happen in front of bystanders, but fewer than 20 percent of people end up providing first aid.
A study on the Saudi public’s knowledge of CPR published in February 2021 found that more than 50 percent of people were unaware of CPR and only 4.4 percent had attended a formal training course.
“While not envisioned as a replacement for formal CPR training, the initiative aims to educate on the basic steps and importance of CPR, and to increase the confidence and willingness of people to act in such a situation,” the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.
“It also drives users to their local Red Cross Red Crescent website to get more information or find out how to organize training in person.”
Users will be able to learn about CPR when opening the lens via Snapcode or through the Snapchat carousel.
Once opened, the lens creates a virtual lifesize human dummy on the user’s floor. It then guides Snapchatters through the stages of performing CPR, as well as other elements like the optimal frequency and speed of chest compressions. Multiple choice questions also help to clarify each step.
