Can Your Phone Save Your Life?

By Whitney Newlands

Image by Enrique Dans

Many people say they couldn’t survive without their cell phone. Today, a person’s smart phone could literally save lives.

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Smart phones, such as the Blackberry and iPhone, have become our new lifelines

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With available applications such as Phone Aid, GPS, Family GPS tracking, Real Time Warning and Emergency First Aid Guide,

a cell phone could be the most important addition to any families’ emergency kit.

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Phone Aid is a free app created by Apple, which provides voice led instructions and slideshows.

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Phone Aid can guide users through proper CPR procedures, treatment of burns, bites and broken bones

within it’s A-Z guide covering 24 of the most common and urgent first aid situations.

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GPS is available on most smart phones and can guide individuals to the nearest

hospital or shelter during an emergency.

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GPS helps people who are lost…

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Family GPS Tracker and Family Locator app was named the Top 10 App in the world by Google.

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This app allows individuals to see their family member’s location on a map and provides easy access to their medical

information and history in case of an emergency

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This app is crucial for keeping tabs on family members following disasters or emergencies.

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The app can locate a person who may be trapped under rubble, unconscious or unable to call for help.

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Real Time Warning alerts users of natural disasters on a local and global scale

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The app monitors for earthquakes, cyclones, hurricanes, floods and volcanic eruptions.

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Real Time Warning will set off a customized disaster alarm for local natural disasters warnings.

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Emergency First Aid Guide is a must have app for survival

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Covering emergencies such as CPR, heart attack, shock, frostbite, insect stings, drowning,

emergency births and head injuries.

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The clear and specific instructions on this app make it easy for anyone to save a life

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Both the Emergency First Aid Guide and the Phone Aid do not require internet access. They are designed so users

can access these apps regardless of location or internet availability

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Find yourself stuck in the woods? With the right tools you can start a fire for warmth

and cooking just by using your phone.

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How to start a fire with your cell phone

Proof that a cell can do more than just talk and text!To create your fire you will

need a cell phone battery, steel wool/wire and tinder

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•Take the battery and find the contact points and roll a chunk of steel wool into a cylinder.• Bend the wool in half and press the ends to the contact points. •The wool will heat up and begin to smoldering, bring wool to tinder till it catches fire.•Add more tinder and your fire will start to grow.

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With lots of debate and attention surrounding cell phones and mobility, it is easy to forget all the positive aspects of smart phones and how much they can make a difference in

our lives…

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Maybe tomorrow your cell phone will save your life…

Image by Andrew King

Image by Hakan Dahlstrom

All images are licensed uner the Creative Commons Non-CommecialShare-Alike 3.0 agreement, and sources from flickr

Reference List

http://www.appbrain.com/

http://www.appbrain.com/app/first-aid/com.usa.health.ifitness.firstaid

http://www.appbrain.com/app/real-time-warning/com.horizon.android.rtw

http://www.backpacker.com/start_a_fire_with_your_cellphone/videos/82

http://www.iphonewiki.com.au/phone-aid-iphone-ipod-touch-applications/

http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/04/using_your_smart_phone_as_a_su.html