Responder network

1. An automated external defibrillator (AED) system that includes a wireless communications unit, and a messaging interface that facilitates the rendering of notes, the AED system being configured to:

receive an electronic incident message via the communications unit that indicates that there is a potential cardiac arrest incident nearby for which the AED system may be helpful;

receive notes regarding the potential cardiac arrest incident from a remotely located source via the communications unit before the AED system has arrived at the incident location; and

render the notes regarding the potential cardiac arrest incident before the AED system has arrived at the incident location.

2. An AED system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a display screen, wherein the notes are rendered on the display screen.

3. An AED system as recited in claim 1 wherein the notes are dispatcher notes entered by a public safety answering point operator.

4. An AED system as recited in claim 1 wherein the notes are notes entered by a help requester at the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

5. An AED system as recited in claim 1 wherein the notes are received from a responder network server.

6. An AED system as recited in claim 1 wherein the incident message includes a location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

7. An AED system as recited in claim 1 further configured to render a map showing the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

8. An AED system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the AED system is a portable modular defibrillator system that includes a base defibrillator unit that serves as an automated external defibrillator and an interface unit that includes the communication unit and the display screen.

9. An AED system as recited in claim 1 further configured to support messaging between a responder and a witness present at the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

10. An automated external defibrillator (AED) system that includes a wireless communications unit and a messaging interface that facilitates the rendering of notes, the AED system being configured to:

receive an incident message via the communications unit that indicates a location of a potential cardiac arrest incident for which the AED system may be helpful;

receive notes regarding the potential cardiac arrest incident from a remotely located source via the communications unit;

output the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident such that a responder may navigate to the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident; and

render the notes regarding the potential cardiac arrest incident.

11. An AED system as recited in claim 10 further comprising a display screen, wherein the outputted indication of the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident and the notes are both at least partially rendered on the display screen.

12. An AED system as recited in claim 11 further configured to render a map showing the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

13. An AED system as recited in claim 10 wherein the notes are dispatcher notes entered by a public safety answering point operator.

14. An AED system as recited in claim 13 wherein the notes are received by way of a responder network server.

15. An AED system as recited in claim 10 wherein the notes are notes entered by a help requester at the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

16. An automated external defibrillator (AED) system that includes an AED, a communications unit and a display screen, the AED system being configured to:

receive an incident message that indicates a location of a potential cardiac arrest incident for which the AED may be helpful;

display a map on the display screen that shows a current location of the AED and the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident, whereby a responder carrying the AED may utilize the map displayed on the display screen to navigate to the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident; and

update the map displayed on the display screen as the responder navigates with the AED towards the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident, wherein the update of the map is or includes updating a current location of the AED displayed on the map as the responder navigates with the AED towards the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

17. An AED system as recited in claim 16 further configured to automatically transition to displaying at least one of (i) and arrived message; or (ii) an AED use instruction, when the AED is determined to have arrived at the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

18. An AED system as recited in claim 16 further configured to transition to displaying at least one of (i) an arrived message; or (ii) an AED operating instruction, in response to a user input indicating that the AED has arrived at the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

19. An AED system as recited in claim 16 further configured to show directions from the current location of the AED to the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident on the display screen.

20. An AED system as recited in claim 19 wherein the directions include textual directions displayed on the display screen, whereby the responder may utilize the textual directions displayed on the display screen to navigate to the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

21. An AED system as recited in claim 16 further comprising a speaker, wherein the AED system is further configured to provide audio directions to the location via the speaker, whereby the responder may be directed to the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident by the audio prompts.

22. An AED system as recited in claim 16 further configured to support messaging between the responder and a witness present at the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.

23. An AED system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the AED system is a portable modular defibrillator system that includes a base defibrillator unit that serves as the AED and an interface unit that is mounted on the base defibrillator unit to provide the portable modular defibrillator system, wherein the communication unit and the display screen are part of the interface unit.

24. An AED system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the display and the communication unit are both components of the AED.

25. An AED system as recited in claim 16 , further configured to display at least one of:

a timer that indicates an amount of time that has elapsed since a call for help was made or a potential cardiac arrest incident was declared; and

an estimate of how long it will take to arrive at the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.