Nicole Gleeson is quite simply a healthcare hero. When she isn’t working as a clinical nurse specialist at a large tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Nicole is disrupting the first aid training scene through her business Rhythm First Aid.
Nicole is determined that your postcode should not define the level of first aid training or access to resources you receive. Since 2018, Rhythm First Aid has been providing families and businesses in rural and regional Victoria with first aid courses and supplies.
Nicole shares with us a few apps that you can download to prepare yourself if an emergency, accident or illness occurs.
EMERGENCY +
The app that could save your life
This app is incredible and should be on everyone’s phones. Personally, I’ve used this app a couple of times.
If you came across a car accident on the open road, how would you know where you are when calling 000? You may not know where what the nearest intersection is, or exactly where you are if you are on a hike.
In an emergency, time and location accuracy are critical. By downloading the ‘Emergency +’ app, you’ll equip yourself with a powerful tool that will help you call Triple Zero (000) quickly, and allow you to accurately communicate your location to emergency call-takers.
‘Emergency +’ is a national app developed by Australia’s emergency services and their government industry partners, helping people to call the right number at the right time, anywhere in Australia. 'Emergency +' also includes SES and police assistance line numbers as options, so non-emergency calls are made to the most appropriate number.
The app uses a mobile phone’s GPS functionality and what3words, so callers can provide emergency call-takers with their location information as determined by their smart phone.
With what3words available within the Emergency+ app, Triple Zero (000) callers can confirm their exact location quickly and accurately.
what3words has divided the world into 3m squares and given each one a unique three word identifier. Addressing using what3words works offline - ideal when you have no data coverage or are in a remote location.
AUSTRALIAN BITES & STINGS
Australia is a beautiful country and is home to some of the world’s most venomous creatures!
Do you put heat on this bite, or an icepack, or vinegar? Is it dangerous? I can’t remember!
This app is a handy guide to provide the correct first aid advice if you, or someone with you is bitten or stung by a venomous snake, spider, jellyfish, aquatic creature or creepy crawly.
While deaths due to venomous bites and stings are rare in Australia, it’s important to apply the appropriate first aid and seek urgent medical care to help improve a victim’s outcome.
Download the Australian Bites & Stings App so that the information is available on your phone, even without internet connection, so that you are prepared in Australia’s great outdoors, or at home
The App includes:
- First Aid instructions on what to do if bitten or stung by a venomous creature.
- A step-by-step guide to DRSABCD and the pressure immobilisation technique including expert commentary on why it’s important.
- Information and pictures of venomous spiders, aquatic creatures, jellyfish and creepy crawlies, with maps showing how they may be distributed around Australia.
- 'Be Prepared', 'Bush Safety' and 'Beach Safety' information with a checklist of some essentials for when you venture out.
- Audio resuscitation guide.
- Emergency services call button.
VIC EMERGENCY
VicEmergency is the official Victorian Government app for emergency warnings and information.
Download VicEmergency, set up a user profile and watch zones to ensure you receive official warnings and information for areas that interest you.
You can set up alerts for your home, an area of interest or where you are headed for your summer holidays.
Main features:
- Live incident map showing current warnings, planned burns and other types of incidents across Victoria.
- Simple to create a profile and use watch zones that ensure you get official warnings for your local area. Warnings and information are pushed out to a user's phone when issued by Victoria’s emergency services.
- GPS integration to determine your current location and surrounding incidents.
- Emergency Warnings, Warnings, Advice and information as issued by Victoria’s emergency services
- Share incidents and warnings with friends and family.
- View forecast Fire Danger Ratings on the map.
- View today's and tomorrow’s Total Fire Ban status.
Note: Your device must have an internet connection to receive warnings and information issued by Victorian emergency services. To view your current location, GPS must be switched on and location functionality enabled.
KIDS HEALTH INFO
This app is a parents pocket guide to all illnesses in children. Reliable, evidence based information that is easy to read and understand.
This App is dedicated to providing quality, up-to-date health information. The Kids Health Info fact sheets have been developed for parents and adolescents, and cover pertinent topics about medical conditions and the services available at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne.
Child has gastro, not sure what to do, search the ‘gastroenteritis’ fact sheet. Baby has a rash, search the 'rashes’ fact sheet.
The app will enable you to search and browse more than three hundred medical fact sheets and they can be viewed offline.
There are also a number of informative fact sheets on safety around the home, safety and toys, safety on holidays etc.
We recommend that all parents download this app on their phone.
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Rhythm First Aid are passionate and energetic educators delivering first aid training of the highest quality in a captivating and fun environment. Train today to save a life tomorrow.