Exploring the role of digital technology for World First Aid Day
World First Aid Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of September every year. This means that World First Aid Day 2023 falls on 9 September.
In this post, we’re going to find out more about the day and the increasingly important role that digital technology is playing in first aid. Read on to know more.
What’s the day all about?
World First Aid Day is a special day organised by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to recognise the role of first aid in our everyday lives.
The inaugural World First Aid Day was held in 2000, and the day has been celebrated every year since to raise awareness of the value of first aid and help make training more accessible to everyone.
The World First Aid Day 2023 theme is 'First Aid in the Digital World', celebrating the role of digital technology in first aid today.
So, this year's event is an opportunity for you to know more about the latest tech and apps out there that can help you give timely and efficient first aid. You can also reflect on your own first aid skills and refresh them if necessary.
What’s the latest digital technology for first aid?
There are so many ways that digital technology has helped in the field of first aid. Let’s find out about some of the key digital tools designed to help you administer first aid safely.
Smartphone apps
Check out the Red Cross First Aid app, a free tool that takes you through common first aid scenarios, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), giving you the knowledge and support you need in an emergency.
If you’re the outdoorsy type, then the Australian Bites & Stings app is essential. It will help you identify a wide range of creatures that can deliver a nasty nip, as well as bite and sting symptoms and how to deal with them.
And if you’re a parent, then The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne's Kids Health Info app is a must. It offers a wealth of reliable and up-to-date information about how to deal with kids’ illnesses and injuries.
Defibrillators
A defibrillator (also known as an automated external defibrillator or AED) is a portable device that sends an electric shock to the heart to make the heartbeat return to normal in the event of a cardiac arrest.
You’ll find defibrillators in public places such as community centres, schools and shopping malls, and they can be used even without training. Once you start the device, you can follow simple instructions on how to use it.
Digital thermometers
A simple device like a digital thermometer can make a big difference in how you keep track of fever symptoms. Besides providing a clear display, it can also retain the previous reading so you know whether the patient’s temperature has changed.
Digital thermometers are quick and easy to use too. For example, if you opt for an infrared digital thermometer, all you have to do is hold it over the patient’s forehead, and you’ll get an accurate reading in just 1 second.
Online learning
There are many first aid courses that you can take online, from wherever you are based and at your own pace.
You may wish to combine online learning with practical, hands-on experience to gain the most benefit — check out the courses offered by accredited providers such as St John Ambulance Australia and the Australian Red Cross in your area.
What else do I need to know about first aid this World First Aid Day?
This special day is your chance to learn more about first aid, why it's important and what you can do to prepare yourself with the equipment and skills that could save lives.
As well as embracing the digital technology that can help in a medical emergency, make sure you keep a well-stocked first aid kit in your home, car and workplace.
Check out the comprehensive range of MediBC first aid kits in our online shop. We’ve got all varieties, from small, portable kits perfect for trekking to workplace and specialist first aid kits.
Get your skills and kit up to date this World First Aid Day
Use World First Aid Day to book yourself onto a first aid course or invest in a new first aid kit for your home or workplace. You’ll find a wide range of quality kits, as well as refills, on the MediBC website. We’re dedicated to ensuring that Australians everywhere have access to the best-quality first aid resources, reflecting our belief that World First Aid Day is every day!
Digital First Aid Tech & AEDs
AEDs, smart monitors, and CPR aids - the digital tools that turn first aiders into life-savers.
