CPR and First Aid training...ON YOUR IPOD???

Cory

Cory

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Well, just to start off, I want to say that I just got done writing a very well written 12 paragraph thread, when my antivirus decided it wasn't going to let me spell check, and instead deleted every letter I typed. I apologize if this seems rushed or is missing something. Just tell me if something doesn't make sense ^_^

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=310795839&mt=8

If you don't have iTunes downloaded, the link that I posted ^^^ is a link to an Ipod Touch/Iphone app called "Assistance" by Silicon Studios.

Assistance is an app that is used in an emergency situation to guide an un-trained rescuer through the process of giving care. The app will ask you a set of detailed questions until it finally comes to an assessment of the patient’s situation. It then walks the rescuer through the steps of how to provide care for the person’s specific situation. This could range anywhere from cleaning a scrape, to providing CPR to a victim of a massive heart attack.

This app is of course very ideal. And I'm sure it has a lot of potential to be a real life saver. And it includes many appealing features such as an automatic speed dial option to your local emergency number. And a GPS detector that gives your exact location for when the emergency operator asks where you are currently.

But the question one must ask themselves is when does easy and convenient become a serious legal liability? Or even a threat to a person's health?

Whatever happened to, "Is there a doctor in the building?" As a person who is certified in first Aid, CPR, AED, First Response and speaking to a community of the highest certified emergency medical providers, it is a scary thought that one person's life could be in the hands of a pre-generated list of questions, answered by a person who may have absolutely no knowledge in how to identify even the simplest of injuries. I have believed for years that a person who has absolutely no training and no knowledge of emergency care has no business in providing anything more than the most basic of procedures.

In the past, if you didn't know CPR, and someone had a heart attack in front of you, you laid them on the ground and called 911. But now, any average Joe could turn on his iphone and play doctor.

Now I know CPR isn't rocket science. But it is a detailed procedure that requires non-emergency practice before a person can really be ready enough to perform on a person who really needs it. Plus there are variables and different reasons to why something may not be working right. And I just think using your ipod as a reference on how to do something you've never done in order to save a life is a bad idea.

These application developers seem to be putting themselves and the people using them in dangerous waters. I could see how this app would be good for a med-student to use as a test prep. But it does not seem to be a sufficient on-scene educator.

With a whole universe of extremely anal organizations like the Red Cross and blood thirsty lawyers, I just don't understand what Silicon Studios and the other developers were thinking.

Now, you are all the ones who are devoted to a forum based on emergency medicine and the jobs it entails. So I ask, what are your opinions? Do you think this app could be the beginning of many ends, or do you think it is a life saver delivered by the angels themselves?

Thanks for reading, hope you aren't just now waking up, and I hope you are intrigued enough to leave a comment.

-Cory-
 
Cory said:
Well, just to start off, I want to say that I just got done writing a very well written 12 paragraph thread, when my antivirus decided it wasn't going to let me spell check, and instead deleted every letter I typed. I apologize if this seems rushed or is missing something. Just tell me if something doesn't make sense ^_^

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=310795839&mt=8

If you don't have iTunes downloaded, the link that I posted ^^^ is a link to an Ipod Touch/Iphone app called "Assistance" by Silicon Studios.

Assistance is an app that is used in an emergency situation to guide an un-trained rescuer through the process of giving care. The app will ask you a set of detailed questions until it finally comes to an assessment of the patient’s situation. It then walks the rescuer through the steps of how to provide care for the person’s specific situation. This could range anywhere from cleaning a scrape, to providing CPR to a victim of a massive heart attack.

This app is of course very ideal. And I'm sure it has a lot of potential to be a real life saver. And it includes many appealing features such as an automatic speed dial option to your local emergency number. And a GPS detector that gives your exact location for when the emergency operator asks where you are currently.

But the question one must ask themselves is when does easy and convenient become a serious legal liability? Or even a threat to a person's health?

Whatever happened to, "Is there a doctor in the building?" As a person who is certified in first Aid, CPR, AED, First Response and speaking to a community of the highest certified emergency medical providers, it is a scary thought that one person's life could be in the hands of a pre-generated list of questions, answered by a person who may have absolutely no knowledge in how to identify even the simplest of injuries. I have believed for years that a person who has absolutely no training and no knowledge of emergency care has no business in providing anything more than the most basic of procedures.

In the past, if you didn't know CPR, and someone had a heart attack in front of you, you laid them on the ground and called 911. But now, any average Joe could turn on his iphone and play doctor.

Now I know CPR isn't rocket science. But it is a detailed procedure that requires non-emergency practice before a person can really be ready enough to perform on a person who really needs it. Plus there are variables and different reasons to why something may not be working right. And I just think using your ipod as a reference on how to do something you've never done in order to save a life is a bad idea.
These application developers seem to be putting themselves and the people using them in dangerous waters. I could see how this app would be good for a med-student to use as a test prep. But it does not seem to be a sufficient on-scene educator.

With a whole universe of extremely anal organizations like the Red Cross and blood thirsty lawyers, I just don't understand what Silicon Studios and the other developers were thinking.

Now, you are all the ones who are devoted to a forum based on emergency medicine and the jobs it entails. So I ask, what are your opinions? Do you think this app could be the beginning of many ends, or do you think it is a life saver delivered by the angels themselves?

Thanks for reading, hope you aren't just now waking up, and I hope you are intrigued enough to leave a comment.

-Cory-
Click to expand...

Well Lets just say we have not increased survival rates in out of hospital cardiac arrest.

The fact of the matter is the only thing proven effective has been bystander CPR and early defib.

If a patient lies there in cardiac arrest for eight minutes waiting for an ambulance they basically have no chance at survival. If a bystander initiates CPR, even bad CPR those survival rates sky rocket.

The public has no idea that their basically the only ones that have any effect on survival rates. They need to get involved and removing the stigma of touching a dead person or being sued needs to be removed.
 
Like CAOX3 was saying, even bad CPR increases survival rates. It's about impossible do a cardiac arrest patient more harm than good on a BLS level. The only thing I could think of would be increasing intrathoracic pressure by hyperventilation, but that's really only going to happen when a BLS ambulance crew gets there. If an iPhone app is what it takes for bystanders to do something for an arrest patient, so be it!
 
As a Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor myself (just got home from teaching a basic Adult CPR class), I think this is a great idea. As has been said above, bystander CPR/AED are the victim's only help until the ambulance arrives. If the app tells them how to do basic CPR, to go find and use an AED, etc, then that increases chance of survival - which decreases 10% for every minute that passes without intervention. It's not ideal and I would suggest everyone become trained in at least basic FA/CPR/AED but if it's even indirectly responsible for one life saved, so be it.
 
Yes, as I mentioned, it is ideal. But my argument is that it seems like a huge risk to be taking in a legal stand point. Silicon Studios seesm to be crossing into dangerous territory. Might I add, this app is not certified by any health organization, it is a thrid party made app.

Plus, someone who is untrained could be very un-aware of disease transmission and many other health risks for them and the patient. People are a lot stupider than we give them credit for in our day to day lives.
 
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