With the release of Apple’s iOS8, now is a great time to make sure you’ve got a free first aid app installed on your iPhone or iPad.  Here’s our roundup of the best free first aid apps for iOS8.

First aid by British Red Cross

The British Red Cross first aid app is a great choice for those looking for a comprehensive first aid app for their phone. The app covers a wide range of medical emergencies including medical conditions, injuries and how to perform CPR.

There’s also a great quiz section where you can test your first aid knowledge. A handy hospital finder also works in the UK for finding your nearest Emergency Department.

As a bonus, the app also comes with a section on how to prepare for emergencies including fires, flooding and road traffic incidents.

Download First aid by British Red Cross

 

 

 

St John Ambulance First Aid

The St John Ambulance app contains similar first aid information to the British Red Cross app and is a good choice again for a comprehensive first aid app.

However the St John Ambulance app does not have any additional features such as a quiz function or hospital finder.

We think this is still a great little app to carry around with you though!

Download St John Ambulance First Aid

 

 

 

 

Baby and Child First Aid by British Red Cross

This app is a similar design to the main British Red Cross app. However it contains specific information for children such as how to deal with a febrile seizure, head injury or nosebleed. Once again there’s a quiz function to test your first aid knowledge and hospital finder.

Our favourite feature on this app is the ‘child record’ function. You can add basic details such as name/date of birth/photo and then add in emergency information such as medication, allergies and contact information. These records can then be shared by email – handy!

Download Baby and Child First Aid by British Red Cross

PocketCPR

The British Heart Foundation produced PocketCPR  as part of their hands only CPR campaign featuring Vinnie Jones. The app contains step by step instructions on how to perform hands only CPR.

This clever app can also be used when learning CPR on a mannequin. The app uses the iPhone accelerometer to measure chest compression depth and rate giving you instant feedback on your CPR technique…awesome!

Download PocketCPR

First aid for Cyclists

This is a new app from St John Ambulance and is targeted specifically at cyclists. There’s information on how to deal with common cycling injuries such as broken bones, cuts and grazes and head injuries.

This app has a cleaner look than the original St John Ambulance app. However the content is very limited as it is designed for cyclists. If you’re looking for a comprehensive first aid app we’d recommend sticking to the main St John Ambulance app instead.

Download First aid for Cyclists