iPhone Saves Trapped Man in Haiti With Apps

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The earthquake in Haiti is one of the most talked about subjects so far this year. Believe it or not, for some reason, it’s more debated than the Apple tablet which is about to be released. And while we already gave you all the details you need in order to contribute to the earthquake relief in Haiti, we now have a story for you that shows exactly why one should love gadgets.

Dan Woolley, an American filmmaker was trapped by the earthquake but luckily for him he had a DSLR camera and an iPhone by his side and the smartphone was filled with apps. You’d say that this story is too good to be true, but let’s move along with the natural course of events.

Having injured both his leg and his head he used an iPhone first-aid that showed him how to make a tourniquet for the leg and bandage for the head. Moreover the app told him that he shouldn’t fall asleep after head trauma and he setup the alarm to ring every 20 minutes in order to keep him awake. The DSLR helped him make extra light while waiting for help to arrive.

All these strategies seem to have worked out quite fine as he was rescued after 65 hours of waiting in an elevator shaft. Luckily for him he had a smartphone with useful features that actually helped him survived. This goes to prove that content is the key feature for any connected device, not only the iPhone. An interesting medical app can save your life but that doesn’t necessarily mean that any medical app will help you survive in any conditions.

The app in question seems to be “Pocket First Aid and CPR” and apparently it already has a user review saying: “Consulted this app, while trapped under Hotel Montana in Haiti earthquake, to treat excessive bleeding and shock. Helped me stay alive till I was rescued 64 hours later.”

He didn’t mention how long the battery lasted and I can only wonder how much battery juice he had left when the earthquake hit. After being trapped, not only was the iPhone’s alarm actively used every 20 minutes for a period of time but Woolley used apps and while doing that it drained the battery even more.

What’s important to remember is that yes, connected devices and their apps can save you, but they won’t do the whole job for you as they have limited capabilities and resources.