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First Aid - IFRC app

An app for anyone wanting information on how to deal with common first aid and emergency situations.

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First Aid - IFRC app	By IFRC
	Features Education and information. Contact info for emergencies.
Country of origin	International, but when you open the app you have to select your location. The NZ section has been customised for New Zealand's first aid guidelines by New Zealand Red Cross.
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? No Require a login? No Have password protection? No Have a privacy policy? Yes Require internet access to use? No Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PDF, 65 KB] Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free
Advertisements	This app contains no ads.
How to get the app	(external link) (external link) (external link)

This app provides useful information to develop an understanding of how to prevent, recognise, and manage common emergency situations such as choking, asthma attack, head injury, chest pain.

Each situation is taught in mini lessons with a small test at the end to check your understanding.
The information is designed to complement first aid courses (e.g. those provided by Red Cross).
For emergency scenarios, the app provides brief information on how to manage the situation step-by-step, and allows you to call local emergency numbers (e.g. 111) from the app.

If you are overseas, you can click the “Traveling Abroad” section to take you to emergency contact information relevant to the country you are in. This section also provides commonly used emergency phrases in the local language e.g. “I need an ambulance”. For the complete app description, go to the app website(external link), Google Play(external link), App Store(external link) or, for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

PROS	CONS
✔ Once downloaded, no internet access is needed. Preloaded content means you have instant access to important first aid and emergency information, even without cell phone reception or an internet connection. ✔ Easy, simple to understand information. ✔ For people traveling overseas, the app notifies you of the local emergency contact information and key phrases in the local language that may be useful in an emergency. ✔ The checklist display is very helpful as a reminder of what to do.	✘ All information is in English. Would be useful to have information available in other common languages in NZ such as Maori and Chinese. ✘ All information is provided via text and images, there are no videos to support learning.

PROS

CONS

✔ Once downloaded, no internet access is needed. Preloaded content means you have instant access to important first aid and emergency information, even without cell phone reception or an internet connection.

✔ Easy, simple to understand information.

✔ For people traveling overseas, the app notifies you of the local emergency contact information and key phrases in the local language that may be useful in an emergency.

✔ The checklist display is very helpful as a reminder of what to do.

✘ All information is in English. Would be useful to have information available in other common languages in NZ such as Maori and Chinese.

✘ All information is provided via text and images, there are no videos to support learning.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Emma Riddell, Clinical Pharmacist, Te Whatu Ora
Date of review: May 2024
Platform: Android
Version: 4.1.2
Comments: I found this app really great for an overview of how to identify and manage emergency situations, and how to provide first aid. It is designed to supplement first aid courses, and provides really simple and easy-to-follow information for a wide range of topics. You can work through it at your own pace and come back to any section later. Unfortunately, there are no videos to demonstrate first aid techniques e.g. CPR. The emergency section is also quite helpful – if you find yourself in an emergency, there is advice on what to do e.g. what emergency number to contact and what first aid to provide while waiting for emergency services to arrive. I also found the “Travelling Abroad” section great – you can choose which country you are in, and it will give you the emergency contact number for that country, as well as commonly used phrases that you may need in an emergency e.g. “I need an ambulance” translated into the local language. Unfortunately, these phrases are also written in the local language, so if you can not read the language (e.g. Chinese characters) then you will not be able to say the phrase yourself, but you may be able to use this section to ask a bystander for help.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Yes – although this app was developed by the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), it has been customised for New Zealand's first aid guidelines by New Zealand Red Cross.
Concerns: None.

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Clinicians guide – how to choose a health app
First aid topics
First aid and emergency apps
New Zealand-based apps
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Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.