Farmers charity unveils emergency support tool

Known as FarmersAid, the pioneering resource provides clear, step-by-step support following a serious incident. It has been developed in response to the realities of rural farming environments, where people are often working alone and emergency services may take longer to reach the scene.

Agriculture remains the UK’s deadliest industry, accounting for around 20% of all work-related fatalities despite employing just 1% of the national workforce.

The app is designed to help farming people take calm, practical action while emergency services are on the way. It does not replace calling 999 or professional medical care. 

FarmersAid is designed around the ‘Platinum Ten’ minutes – the critical window where early action can directly influence survival outcomes. In scenarios such as severe bleeding, intervention within 60 to 90 seconds can be the difference between life and death.  

“Serious on-farm accidents can happen in an instant. FarmersAid provides clear guidance in those critical, often chaotic moments that follow,” said Alicia Chivers, chief executive at RABI. “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.” 

Developed with leading experts in rural emergency medicine, professor Stuart Maitland-Knibb and professor Cathy Jackson, FarmersAid translates complex clinical scenarios into simple, step-by-step instructions for non-clinical users.  

“Nobody expects to become the first person responding to a serious on-farm accident, but in rural environments that is often the reality,” said professor Stuart Maitland-Knibb. “Knowing what to do when first on the scene can save a life and FarmersAid is designed to make that possible.”  

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. 

The key features of the FarmersAid app include:  

• 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  

The app was launched at the Royal Cornwall Show (4–6 June 2026) as the first phase of a wider initiative. Further developments are planned for 2027, including specialised training and critical care kits designed specifically for farm environments.