FOR FIRST aid advice when you’re on the go, the Canadian Red Cross has an app for that.
“We (the Red Cross) recognized that there is a need to make first aid information easily accessible – having the right information at hand could potentially save a life,” said Debbie Van’t Kruis, head lifeguard at the Terrace Aquatic Centre, who works with the Red Cross here.
The free app is available for Android, iPad and iPhone by searching for Canadian Red Cross in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for Android.
There’s information for learning what to do in various medical situations, plus emergency preparedness tips, quizzes and videos.
Van’t Kruis said the app came about in response to a poll done recently by the Canadian Red Cross found that 40 per cent of Canadians say they’ve been in an emergency situation where they had to perform first aid.
And although more than two-thirds of Canadians say they can recognize signs of a life-threatening health emergency such as choking or heart attack, only half are confident in their skills to help.
“Ideally we would encourage Canadians to take a first aid course – this app is not a substitute for being trained; however, it allows us to reach a broader audience particularly in areas like our community where it can be difficult to find a course,” she said.