I’ve given plenty of consideration to iPhone apps in this column in the past. From the rather ridiculous to the handy-dandy, it’s always fun to explore the pint-sized software available. Nobody can deny that the iPhone is a cool device. However, whether you think it’s a godsend or an expensive toy for grown-ups, it’s just been given a new accolade: literal lifesaver.
In the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, American filmmaker Dan Wooley actually used his iPhone to help him survive in the rubble.
According to Wired, Wooley used a medical app, along with the alarm clock and illumination features of his phone to keep himself alive.
“After being crushed by a pile of rubble, Woolley used his digital SLR to illuminate his surroundings and snap photos of the wreckage in search of a safe place to dwell. He took refuge in an elevator shaft, where he followed instructions from an iPhone first-aid app to fashion a bandage and tourniquet for his leg and to stop the bleeding from his head wound, according to an MSNBC story.
The app even warned Woolley not to fall asleep if he felt he was going into shock, so he set his cellphone’s alarm clock to go off every 20 minutes. Sixty-five hours later, a French rescue team saved him.
The app in question, for those keeping track, is “Pocket First Aid and CPR.” which is featuring the story on its page at the moment. If Apple is smart (and they are) they’ll use this as positive PR to distract folks from the allure of other smartphones.
Tech business armchair wisdom aside, this is an incredible example of smart, mobile technology making a tangible difference.
For something a little lighter (actually, a lot lighter), folks who remember the infamously adorable Shiba Inu Puppies video are in for a treat: The puppies are back! Actually, one of the original cuties (Kika) has just become a mother, and internet citizens can now watch her newborn litter looking adorable whenever you mosey over to watch.
The best part? The new stream is actually subtitled “Puppies 2: Electric Boogaloo.” Check in whenever you’re feeling sad about the state of the world.
