Earthquake survivor says iPhone helped save his life

Here's a remarkable story coming out of the horrendous tragedy in Haiti. Colorado Springs resident Dan Woolley was at a Port-au-Prince hotel when that tremendous earthquake struck, trapping him with a compound fracture in his leg and a laceration on his head. Fortunately for Dan, he had his iPhone and a medical app with him (plus a lot of luck), which he used to successfully diagnose and treat his injuries.

Using the light from his iPhone's screen, Dan examined his wounds and identified the extent of the damage using the unnamed app. From there, he looked up the appropriate first aid techniques and applied them with pieces of his own clothing. Later, as he waited to be rescued, he diagnosed shock, again using that medical app. Update: A commenter over at Wired's Gadget Lab site tracked down Dan's review for Pocket First Aid & CPR [$3.99, iTunes link], so now we know which app was the lifesaver.

First aid apps are well represented on the App Store, and might prove crucial in an emergency. The US Army First Aid Manual [$1.99, iTunes link] and Survival Guide [$1.99, iTunes link] may be suitable for you; if you want more clinical information and CPR help, the free WebMD Mobile [iTunes link] or CPR Hero [iTunes link] may deserve a spot on your phone. There's also a podcast to help you learn the techniques of CPR for child and adult rescue.

It's an amazing story of survival, and we wish Dan and everyone affected the best. If you're looking for a way to support the relief efforts, you can do your part -- and get some great software to boot -- today at Indie Relief or Mac Bundle Box.

[Via MacDailyNews]
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