My colleague Ben Stallings here at iPhone Life has just posted about how filmmaker Dan Woolley trapped under the earthquake rubble in Haiti for 65 hours used his iPhone to help in his survival.

He used the iPhone's internal alarm, and also Pocket First Aid and CPR (additional information + iTunes link).

MSNBC and the Today Show report on the story of American filmmaker Dan Woolley, who was trapped under rubble by the Haiti earthquake and survived for nearly three days with the help of his faith, his blood-stained journal, and his iPhone and (separate) camera.

He specifically credits the iPhone's alarm clock (for keeping him from falling asleep while in shock) and an app that has been identified as Pocket First Aid and CPR, by Jive Media LLC. 

The App Store is like the weather.  Everybody complains about it but nobody does anything about it.  The store is still full of junk apps and people still buy them.  But every once in a while you come across an app that is worthwhile and in this case, could actually save lives.

PocketCPR is such an app.  While labeled for "TRAINING USE ONLY" and I'm sure some lawyers would have something to say about it, the idea is to guide you through Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in an emergency.  The app leverages the accelerometer to determine how well you are performing and give you audible and visual advice if you need to go faster or slower.

The free ICE App is one that everyone should have — and hopefully no one will need to use. The idea is simple: everyone is supposed to have an ICE contact in their phone, "ICE" standing for "in case of emergency." ICE App suggests that you put its icon in the upper right-hand corner of the main screen. The app lets you enter four categories of info: who you are, your emergency contacts, medical info, and allergies. 

I suppose apps like this have been around for a while, but I hadn't heard of them. And I think it's a really neat idea. The free SportyPal app uses your iPhone's GPS to track your workout — running, cycling, roller-blading, walking, or whatever. The app logs your position, shows it on a map, and logs your movement, distance, speed, and calories burned while working out. You can view your workout in a map view, which shows where you went. And you can view the stats as charts or in summary fashion. Plus, it offers real-time information while you're working out, such as speed/pace, distance covered, and maximum speed.

 I like this app because it’s like having a first-aid instruction book with me all the time. I particularly like the Emergencies & Injuries section. If I need to know how to wrap a sprained ankle or perform the Heimlich maneuver, it’s right there in my iPhone, complete with instructions and illustrations.