Heartbeat Hero
Aiden Forrest (forresTech) · Leaning · AI Assistant
Heartbeat Hero is an interactive CPR training app for iPhone that teaches you how to perform chest compressions in about ten minutes, without a plastic dummy. Built by developer Aiden Forrest under the forresTech studio, it uses your phone's sensors to measure real compression depth and an AI dispatcher to rehearse the emergency call with you. The whole thing runs on device and works offline, so you can practice anywhere. No signal needed. No manikin, either.
About Heartbeat Hero
What Is Heartbeat Hero
Heartbeat Hero is a CPR training tool that turns the phone in your pocket into a practice partner. Most CPR courses need a manikin, an instructor and a scheduled session. This app drops that down to a few minutes on hardware you already own.
The app was developed by Aiden Forrest, who founded forresTech in 2020 and has shipped iOS apps since his school years. Heartbeat Hero was one of 50 Distinguished Winners in the 2024 Apple Swift Student Challenge and took the Peace Prize at the 2025 RevenueCat Shipathon, chosen first among more than 800 entries.
The core idea is simple. Chest compressions have to hit a specific depth and rate to be effective, and most people who learn CPR once forget the details within months. Think of it as an AI CPR coach in your pocket, plus an offline CPR trainer that never needs a connection. Heartbeat Hero gives you a way to refresh those skills whenever you want, not only when a course is on offer.
The main limit is platform. It's an iOS-only app built around ARKit, so Android users can't run it. It also assumes your phone has the sensor stack to do the depth tracking, which rules out very old devices. So who's it for? Anyone with a modern iPhone who wants a fast, free way to keep CPR skills sharp.
Getting Started
- Download Heartbeat Hero from the App Store on your iPhone. No account or sign-up is needed.
- Open the app and place your phone on a stable surface, or hold it as instructed for the compression session.
- Follow the on-screen guidance while you press down on the surface in front of you, matching the rate the app sets.
- Watch the depth feedback as you go. The app tracks how far you're pushing and nudges you toward the target.
- Rehearse the emergency call with the AI dispatcher, then repeat the drill when you want to keep your timing sharp.
Product Information
A quick look at Heartbeat Hero's pricing, supported platforms, and performance.
Best for
The users, tasks, and scenarios where this tool fits best.
Users
- Everyday people who want a quick CPR refresher
- Parents and caregivers
- First-aid trainees between formal courses
- Teachers and community organizers running short demos
Tasks
- Learning the correct compression rate and depth
- Rehearsing an emergency call
- Practicing without a manikin
- Refreshing forgotten skills
Scenarios
- A five-minute refresher at home before a day out with kids or elderly relatives.
- Practicing on a train or plane where there's no signal, since the app runs fully offline.
- Preparing for a workplace first-aid session so the hands-on part goes smoother.
- Building a habit of checking your technique every few weeks rather than once a year.
Key features
Real Compression Depth Tracking
Heartbeat Hero measures how deep you push during compressions, to the millimetre. It fuses ARKit tracking with your phone's motion sensors through an adaptive Kalman filter, which is a way of blending two noisy signals into one clean reading. That feedback is the part most apps skip, and it's the difference between guessing your depth and knowing it.
AI Dispatcher for Emergency Call Practice
An AI dispatcher rehearses the emergency call with you. Instead of only drilling the physical compressions, the app walks you through the conversation you'd have with a real dispatcher, so the words come out when you're under pressure. It's a rare feature in a CPR trainer, and it targets the part of an emergency people freeze on.
Works Fully Offline
The entire app runs on device, so it keeps working with no signal. You can practice on a flight, in a basement or anywhere the network drops. For a skill you might need in a genuine emergency, not depending on a connection is a real advantage.
No Manikin Required
You don't need a plastic dummy to practice. The app uses your phone to sense compressions against a surface, which cuts the cost and setup that normally blocks regular practice. That's what makes the ten-minute format possible in the first place.
Guided Rate and Rhythm
The app sets the compression rate and keeps you on it as you press. Staying inside the recommended beats per minute is easy to get wrong without a metronome or coach, and the on-screen pacing handles that for you. If you've ever counted out loud and lost track, this fixes it.
Award-Winning Design
Heartbeat Hero was one of 50 Distinguished Winners in Apple's 2024 Swift Student Challenge, and it took the Peace Prize at the 2025 RevenueCat Shipathon from a field of more than 800 entries. Those aren't user reviews, but they signal that the app's approach to on-device CPR training stands out to people who judge iOS software closely.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Teaches CPR in about ten minutes with no manikin, which makes regular practice realistic.
- Measures real compression depth to the millimetre using ARKit and motion sensors.
- Works fully offline. Practice anywhere, even with no signal at all.
- Includes an AI dispatcher that rehearses the emergency call, not just the compressions.
- Free to use, with no subscription needed for the core training.
Cons
- iPhone only. There's no Android version, so a large share of phones can't run it.
- It's a training aid, not a substitute for a certified first-aid course or real emergency care.
- It relies on your phone's sensors for depth tracking, so older or lower-end iPhones may not deliver the same feedback.
- The compressed ten-minute format won't suit someone who wants a full, structured certification course.
Frequently asked questions
It teaches chest compression technique and the basics of an emergency call. You practice pushing to the right depth and rate with live feedback, then rehearse the dispatcher conversation. It focuses on the two things most likely to go wrong in a real emergency.
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