JOHNSTOWN —
The American Red Cross has just released a free cell-phone app that could be priceless: The value of a human life.
The first aid application offers information for everyday medical situations, and a local doctor welcomes the trend.
“There are other apps out there like this, but I think it’s good,” said Dr. David Bundy, ER physician at Windber Medical Center.
“The better educated someone is, the better for them.”
Before the user is given access to the app, though, he or she must agree to a disclaimer that warns the user that it doesn’t provide medical advice or diagnosis.
The user is also responsible for obtaining medical treatment, and the app was designed for educational use and not to give health advice.
“Do not use this app in place of training, and it’s not a substitute for training,” said Lauren Chapman, spokes-woman for the American Red Cross.
“This is information taught in our first-aid class, put in a new format. It’s more of a supplement to someone who has been trained before.”
According to a press release, the app is the first in a series to be created by the American Red Cross.
On the Red Cross website, the application is described as, “expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand.”
“Circumstantially, this can potentially help save a life even without training. I’m excited that people have this info at their fingertips and I strongly recommend training,” said Chapman.
Listed at the top are tabs, Learn, Prepare, Emergency, Test and More Information.
Some situations included under the tabs are bleeding, choking, heart attack and shock.
The categories are broken down in alphabetical order to make it easier for the user to find what they need in a hurry.
When a situation is selected, the application provides step-by-step instructions on how to deal with that particular situation and it also provides videos and diagrams for the user to follow.
Under “quiz,” there are two- to five-question quizzes to take to help improve a knowledge basis, providing badges as rewards and promoting sharing the user’s results with friends via social networks.
The app also has information for such situations as earthquakes, fires, volcanos and severe winter weather.
The app is avaliable on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching, “American Red Cross.”
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