Altibox, a Norwegian cable TV operator has announced the first First Aid TV channel, the fruit of collaboration between the Red Cross and Laerdal Medical, the Norwegian company with branches worldwide, specialised in the manufacture of first aid articles.

The channel, called Forstehjeplskanalen, is due to go on air on 1^st July. The choice of date is deliberate since the summer period is statistically the time when accidents peak. It has also been shown that in Norway, 6 out of 10 people are not able to provide assistance in the event of an emergency.

It is hoped that television might fill this gap. Amongst other things it will provide information about how to deal with problems typical of the time of year: sunburn, insect bites and jellyfish stings.