If there is an accident, people often do not react rationally, are restless due to the adrenaline they emit or feel helpless. Since nobody needs overwhelmed passers-by or relatives who google desperately or simply do nothing, help in these cases First aid apps. However, since there are countless of them, we have taken a closer look at five and present the three best of them. All apps are available in both the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
Ranking of first aid apps: criteria
Each of the many first aid apps is different in complexity and ease of use. The criteria we used to evaluate the apps are divided into three points.
- Easy construction
- Covering any emergency
- Understandable instructions
1st place: Maltese
The Malteser emergency app is particularly good because it is so incredibly simple. You can make an emergency call directly in the app, and under “Emergency” you will receive clear instructions on what to do in the event of a traffic accident. If you click on “First Aid Tips”, you can choose between different emergencies. The app covers the following points:
- Fires and fire accidents
- Poisoning
- Insect bites and ticks
- Electrical accidents
- Hypothermia and frostbite
- acute illnesses such as strokes, asthma or seizures
- Amputations
- heavy bleeding
- Violence on the head
- Covid-19
- and much more.
The app also helps you in terms of mental support and action in violent situations, with which you are prepared for many emergencies. If you click on a single point, such as “Frostbite”, the app shows you how you can recognize frostbite and whether it is superficial or deep. It also explains which measures should be taken and what you absolutely have to pay attention to.
2nd place: ASB app in an emergency
The free app from the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund is particularly good among the first aid apps. In principle, it is not very different from the Maltese app, but there are two fundamental differences.
Difference no. 1 is that all necessary information about you can be stored in the app under the menu item “Personal data”. In the fields, the app asks you for your blood type, your name and date of birth and contact number. The app also queries chronic illnesses, medication and allergies. You can even tick dentures and contact lenses. However, if you have an iPhone or Apple Watch, you can also store this information in the Health app.
However, the app completely lacks information on violent situations, Covid-19 or mental support. On the other hand, the items “Injuries to the eye” and “Pelvic and spinal column injuries” are represented, which are missing in the Maltese app. In addition, you can search for hospitals and pharmacies nearby.
3rd place: The first aid app from FLEXEO
The app “First Aid App” from FLEXEO has an uncreative but simple name, which is particularly noticeable due to its design. As the cute heart with stethoscope already suggests, this app is particularly child-friendly. The app also scores particularly well with the explanatory images, which are mostly integrated. In general, the app is very clear and has only eleven sub-items:
- Call the emergency
- Immediate action
- acid burns
- Burns
- poisoning
- Bleeding
- shock
- Broken bones
- Electricity accidents
- traffic accidents
- Dog Cat
The last point in particular is the app’s unique selling point, as you can also use it to provide first aid to your pets. If you click on the point, you can choose again between many different problems such as “resuscitation”.
Conclusion: first aid apps in comparison
The Maltese app and the ASB app are similar in many respects and yet are different. If you don’t want to do without any function, you should therefore download both apps. If you have an iPhone, we recommend the Maltese app, as it gives you a compact overview for every emergency. You should then save your own medical data in the health app under “Emergency passport”.
If you don’t have an iPhone, the first aid app of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund is for you. Here you have all the information for emergencies with others or with you in an app, which can make the work of paramedics a lot easier. If too much text could overwhelm you in an emergency and you prefer instructional pictures, use the “First Aid App” with the cute heart. You should also install this app if you have a dog or a cat.
In addition to first aid apps, there are also special emergency call apps. If you are more likely to ask yourself whether you or someone around you is addicted to alcohol, you can use these two questions to identify alcoholics.
Sources: own research