We are not few who turn to the wisdom of YouTube when we have a problem or doubt to solve. The video platform wants to be even more useful and for that, they have introduced an interesting novelty: if you search for advice on how to deal with a medical emergency, YouTube will show you authorized sources that will tell you what you need to do.
What to do in case of a heart attack, how to perform a resuscitation maneuver… Now, typing these search terms on YouTube can potentially save a life. At least that’s Google’s intention: YouTube has partnered with Mass General Brigham and the Mexican Red Cross to cover a series of basic health emergencies and show first aid procedures in video format.
Last year, YouTube already started taking measures against misinformation in the medical field (false treatments against COVID 19, “miracle” remedies against cancer, etc). Now, the platform is committed to making quality medical information available to anyone who wishes.
As we can read in The Verge, these tutorials will cover, among others, how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, perform CPR, or identify the first signs of a heart attack. In a situation of extreme urgency, these videos could help prevent accidents and stabilize the patient who needs it before specialized help arrives.
And if you want to delve deeper into the subject, YouTube also offers a practical course on cardiopulmonary resuscitation conducted in collaboration with the American Heart Association.
There are also other types of explanatory videos where they talk in depth about drug overdoses, seizures, suicide attempts, or even how to apply a tourniquet. For now, the videos will be available in English and Spanish, but only in the United States. As the months go by, they will be available in other languages and countries.
