OUTDOOR FIRST AID APP
Be Prepared For Emergencies
Overview
The primary objective of the Outdoor First Aid app is to empower users by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively handle common first aid situations that may arise during outdoor activities. This app aims to provide users with essential tools and resources to respond efficiently in emergency scenarios while also educating them about potential incidents that can occur in outdoor environments.
Users
This app is designed for those people that like to spend time outdoors, hiking, camping, exploring, etc. and do not have extensive first aid training
Key Features
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First Aid Instructions
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Knowledge base to educate self
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Ability to call 911 within app
Tools Used
Design Requirements
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Must follow iOS and Material Design guidelines
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Native mobile design patterns used
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Clearly defined typographic hierarchy
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Appropriate use of color
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Appropriate use of haptic and sound feedback for interactions
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User gestures annotated
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UI must be intuitive
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Consistent UI design applied across all screens
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The app is designed for accessibility
Design Process
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Competitive Analysis
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User Research
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Userflow
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Mockups
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User Testing
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Refine
Competitor Analysis
Although the marketplace offers numerous first aid applications, including well-known ones like First Aid Kit Australia and American Red Cross, among others, I conducted an evaluation and identified both commendable features and areas that could be improved upon
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Icons are simple with labels that represent emergent situations and have steps that are simple and to the point.
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Illustrations fit the simplistic theme and show information that will help explain pertinent steps.
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Emergency phone button is included in certain steps and is always readily accessible at the bottom of the screen.
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Hospitals with distance from users current location is accessible via a button located at the bottom; map is also available once the hospital is clicked.
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The icons are not self explanatory so the labels are necessary.
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here is some inconsistency in the use of colors as the iOS uses red for blood and uses green for the Android version.
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The iOS version has only textual descriptions for the steps yet the Android version has illustrations showing the steps and do not have enough contrast.
Low Fidelity
Mid Fidelity
High Fidelity
User Testing
I had 4 total testers, 2 of whom tested the Android version and 2 tested the iOS version. I provided a link for them to test and received feedback in writing and by telephone. I requested that they test the flow, design transitions and intuitiveness of the design.
“I really like the colors, idk if you need “sex/gender” in the profile? If so add that, I love that the map is easy to access because you’ll want to know where to tell the 911 operators where to send someone.”
“It looks great! The menu seems very easy to navigate, I like that there are 2 layers to the injuries, what to do with shorter text and then it goes deeper if you ask (because if it’s an emergency I want the quicker one 1st). “
“I like the colors. It is easy to navigate the app. I really like the icons for each section and I appreciate that I can educate myself on ailments. I did find that at times I did not know if I was in the “Learn” part of the app or the “First Aid” part.”
Key Takeaways
Research
During the research phase, my target users primarily consisted of individuals who could be categorized as casual outdoor enthusiasts. However, I recognized the potential benefits of involving expert outdoor enthusiasts as well. Including this group would have provided a wider range of perspectives, information, and incidents that may not have been initially considered. By incorporating the insights of experienced outdoor individuals, the app could have been further enriched with valuable and comprehensive content.
Content
Instead of solely focusing on first aid, I believed that enriching the app with an educational component would provide additional value to users. By including informative content that users could explore at their own pace, they would be able to educate themselves and gain knowledge that could empower them to intervene earlier in certain situations.
Testing
One of the challenges I faced was determining the best way to present information in a user-friendly format for the target audience. At first, the instructions relied heavily on text, which proved to be inefficient in emergency situations. To address this, I realized the importance of emphasizing the key points in the instructions and incorporating visual references to assist users in quickly grasping the necessary action steps.
