SMS based system to provide first aid information in Kenya

Abstract

Emergencies resulting from accidents and illness occur all around us in everyday life and knowledge of what action needs to be taken to manage a crisis can make the difference between life and death. Basic first-aid skills can be helpful in taking care of small injuries that usually occur from accidents as well as assisting in emergency ill health such as epilepsy, nose bleeding, choking, burns, scalds, asthma attacks and trauma management to mention but a few. The main objectives of this project was to develop SMS based first aid Information system and test it to look at the potential of SMS in improving access to first aid information in Kenya. The system development followed the waterfall system development life cycle. We first conducted a requirements and data gathering exercise to understand the user requirements as well as get credible first aid information. First aid information for use in the system was provided and approved by the Kenya Red Cross organization for testing purposes. After developing the system all the 54 participants were introduced to the system and asked to try it out. Following the intervention, questionnaires were issued to the participants to get their feedback on areas such as system usability, efficiency and effectiveness. All participants were able to interact with the system by initiating the system and getting SMS responses to first aid interventions queried. System usability tests conducted using questionnaires to the participants showed that 100% were satisfied with the system ease of use and would use it when officially launched. 78% of the participants felt that the system had the potential to create first aid awareness in Kenya and since most Kenyans own or have access to mobile phones with 98% of the participants owning a mobile phone then most Kenyans would be able to access and use the system. Following the test results on the system, SMS text messaging was perceived as a suitable and accepted medium to promote first aid awareness in Kenya.