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As reported by the BBC, the Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust are providing MP3-based first aid advice on how to deal with common and potentially serious situations (such as fits, collapses and resuscitation). This joins first aid advice available as a podcast on the iTunes Music Store by St. John's Ambulance.

The Trust's website provides further details:

Did you know you can now download first aid advice in mp3 format to store on your iPod (or any mp3) player? They are copyright free and have been professionally recorded so they will always be crystal clear when ever you need them.

They cover all the situations where giving the correct first aid may mean the difference between life and death.

All the advice provided is up to date and complies with Resuscitation Council guidelines. Of course, we realise that everyone hopes that they are never confronted with these situations. But unfortunately, the facts are otherwise. What is more, the chances are the victim will be somebody close to you.

At first the whole idea seems a bit bizarre. Imagine the scene: there's been a road traffic accident, and several people are injured. In the midst of the chaos stands the wo(man) in charge, identified by the tell-tale white earbuds that scream "I know first aid!". Gesticulating in one direction then the other, shouting instructions to passers-by with eyes and thumbs on the iPod controls to review that last instruction, our luckless hero is unable to hear the approaching ambulance and becomes the incidents only fatality...

Worst aid advice on your iPod? (Original image © Apple)

Although the advice may be similar to that normally offered during a 999 call, however, it is not intended as a substitute. The idea is to "be prepared" and that is certainly a laudable aim:

Once you have the files on your player listen to them from time to time. This will bring two benefits: you will be more likely to find them quickly in an emergency if you have been accessing them regularly, and you will keep yourself refreshed on what to do in an emergency.

If you dial 999 take instructions from the ambulance call-taker. They will be able to coach you in real time which is preferable.

The files are apparently proving very popular, reflecting either healthy curiosity, perceived educational value, or a dearth of free content for iPods:

Unfortunately, due to an unprecedented demand on our servers we have had to temporarily suspend this service. We apologise for this problem and hope to resolve this issue soon.

The Sussex Ambulance Service have made the files available for download again. They encourage distribution of the unmodified files so, here they are (8 MB .zip archive). Topics are burns, fits, wounds, unconscious patient, CPR for adults, CPR for babies, collapsed patient.

For those of you who may be American, don't dial 999. You dial 911 OK?

Update 14.06.06: More topics in more formats available here.

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