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Take the British Red Cross’ advice and download its innovative free mobile first aid apps – it could save you a trip to hospital this Christmas.

Burns are the most common type of injury at this time of year, according to studies. Latest figures show that over a 1000 accidents related to fairy lights and candle fires where recorded during the festive period.[1]

Joe Mulligan, the head of British Red Cross first aid education said: “A&E admissions have spiralled by 48 per cent in the last decade, putting real pressure on hospitals. Over the festive period accidents do happen, yet our research shows a shockingly low use of first aid by patients before visiting A&E.

“Our First Aid app and the Baby and Child app are free and provide easy to follow first aid advice that could save lives, and reduce injury and suffering.”

With so many festive dangers around – a burn from your Christmas pud, a cut while carving the turkey or even choking on a sprout – the charity is urging members of the public to make use of the mobile apps for basic first aid advice.

The British Red Cross First Aid app, which is three years old on Christmas day, is a cross platform application featuring videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice – allowing users to save lives at a swipe of their touchscreens.

The British Red Cross’ updated Baby and Child smartphone and tablet app is free to download on Apple’s iTunes store and the Google Play marketplace. The app is designed to equip parents, guardians and carers of babies and young children with simple and easy to learn first aid skills.

The Red Cross additionally offers a free online educational resource called Everyday First Aid on the charity’s website.

Press release written and supplied by The Red Cross

[1] Source: 2011/12 Fire Statistics Great Britain from the Department for Communities and Local Government.