Tips for Emergency Use of Mobile Devices

Apps

Evaluate using apps that make sense for you. Most are free or low cost. Be selective as have [sic] too many on your device can be overwhelming. There are many emergency apps to choose from with different features such as:

• First aid information

• Locating nearest Red Cross emergency shelters

• FEMA information

• Contact list

• Weather alerts

• Contact list apps

There are many “contact list apps” that can be used for your contact list. Features can include:

• Sending emergency voice, text or email messages to a specific group of people

• Pressing one button that will call, email or text everyone on your contact list with a prewritten message.

• Informing you if your emergency messages were successfully delivered.

• Allowing “Follow Me” features in which you select contacts who can track your location in real-time when you are worried for your safety.

• Using an “I’m Safe” button to let your contacts know when you have safely arrived at your destination or that you are ok.

• Pressing an SOS button to send a panic alert containing a link to your GPS location. This alert goes to your pre-selected emergency contacts via text message and email, and if you chose also be posted to Facebook & Twitter.

• Using new sensor technologies becoming available that for example can help detect falls or injuries and call for help without you needing to do anything.

Help for people who experience speaking, seeing, hearing, understanding, remembering and reading limitations, features can include.

• Language translation (often customizable)

• Text to speech

• Speech to speech

• Use of symbols of photos for communicating, often customized