Widgit First Response Communication book, uses symbols to help people responding to medical emergencies ask questions and understand responses from people who find communication difficult, UK, 2021

A medical emergency is a time when communication is vitally important. However, there can be many factors which affect someone’s ability to communicate. This communication book uses Widgit’s large and well-established library of symbols to help first responders and patients communicate with each other.

The communication book follows the standard format of a first response medical assessment, including symbols to help establish the patient’s current symptoms and their medical history for example. Throughout the book, questions and a range of responses are illustrated using Widgit’s symbols. The first responder can point to the symbols to help the patient understand questions and the patient can use the symbols to respond. On the back page for easy reference there is a pain scale and some generic responses. This resource was designed in collaboration with experienced first responders.

Over the past 25 years, Widgit have developed a library of over 11,000 symbols which can be used to represent over 40,000 words. These symbols are used in lots of different settings from schools to tourist attractions to hospitals. As a company they believe that everybody should have free and equal access to information.