A new app has been developed to help farm workers take calm, practical action when facing the reality of responding to accidents on farm.
The reality of working in agriculture means that farm workers are often lone-working in rural environments where emergency services may take longer to reach.
The first ten minutes following major trauma incidents is a crucial period where early action can directly influence survival outcomes. Offering step-by-step instructions for non-clinical users, RABI's FarmersAid app provides crucial real time, practical guidance during those first critical moments.
In scenarios such as severe bleeding, intervention within 60 to 90 seconds can be the difference between life and death.
Key features
- Ten core scenarios – targeted guidance for the most common high-risk accidents, including injuries from livestock, machinery entrapment and crush injuries
- High-pressure usability – large buttons, simplified copy and yes/no triage logic designed for chaotic environments
- Immediate actions – rapid access to emergency services (Call 999) and precise location sharing using What3Words
- Preparedness tools – guidance on identifying air ambulance landing spots, defibrillator locations and setting up Emergency SOS on mobile devices
First actions save lives
The app is the initiative of farming charity RABI, who developed the app together with leading experts in rural emergency medicine, Professor Stuart Maitland-Knibb and Professor Cathy Jackson.
By helping people familiarise themselves with the scenarios before an emergency happens, the app provides practical guidance that can support those critical first actions while emergency services are on the way.
“Downloading RABI’s free FarmersAid app could make all the difference in ensuring you have the tools and information you need in the worst situations so more of us go home to our loved ones. Please download it today.”
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt
Chief Executive at RABI Alicia Chivers said: “Serious on-farm accidents can happen in an instant. FarmersAid provides clear guidance in those critical, often chaotic moments that follow.
“We want to see FarmersAid on as many phones as possible across the farming community. Whether you’re working on a farm every day, supporting family members or employing staff, we’d encourage people to download the app, learn the scenarios and familiarise themselves with it before it’s ever needed.”
Professor Stuart Maitland-Knibb added: “Nobody expects to become the first person responding to a serious on-farm accident, but in rural environments that is often the reality. Knowing what to do when first on the scene can save a life and FarmersAid is designed to make that possible.”
A crucial tools that could make all the difference
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt echoed Alicia’s call for all famers to download the app, saying: “Farming continues to be one of the most dangerous sectors to work in. Every year, too may lives are lost or changed forever – it’s crucial that we all take ownership for changing this.
“Downloading RABI’s free FarmersAid app could make all the difference in ensuring you have the tools and information you need in the worst situations so more of us go home to our loved ones. Please download it today.”
RABI will be demonstrating FarmersAid across the 2026 show circuit, including Cereals, Groundswell, the Great Yorkshire Show, and the Royal Welsh Show, where participants can take the ‘Torniquet Challenge’ and test their first response skills.
The app does not replace calling 999 or professional medical care.
