When you need an automated external defibrillator (AED) you don’t have time to search around or wait for one. It’s a matter of life or death and each second counts.

Whereas in the past, you’d have to wait for first responders with knowledge of the nearest AED to come for help, new technology — like the San Ramon Fire Department’s Save a Life app — enables trained citizens anywhere to be called into action, with a notification of nearby emergency and information on the closest AED. The San Ramon app has already saved lives. Clearly, this app has tremendous potential to help citizens — and not just in San Ramon. Every city could benefit from this kind of technology; however, for it to work, there needs to be an up-to-date, reliable, and open database of AED locations. Fortunately, a group of urbanists and technologists — including Javier Muniz of Granicus and Adriel Hampton of NationBuilder — have come together to build and the tech needed to crowdsource that data.

But they need your help. The app has been prototyped, and they are continuing development. This weekend (December 10 & 11), at the CityCampSF hackathon, you can join them in making this important, much needed application a reality.

More details on the hackathon here: http://www.wiredtoshare.com/citycampsf_hackathon