British Red Cross to launch Emergency app

5. BRC Feed@300dpiFollowing its award winning First Aid App, the British Red Cross is launching an innovative Emergency app, available to the public for free download from 23 September.

The Emergency app will deliver real-time alerts for severe weather and other potential threats around the UK, providing users with helpful and personalised information to keep them and their family and friends safe. As well as alerts straight to your phone, the app will also provide clear, practical advice on how to deal with a range of common emergencies such as flooding, power outages, and even terror threats.

Users will be able to set several locations for the app to monitor, so you not only know what is happening where you are, but can also be sure of anything happening near your loved ones. It means that no matter where you are, you can rest easy that you’ll be alerted to any emergency that could affect people you care about. The app, as well as alerting you, will provide useful and practical information on what to do next.

As well as alerts and practical advice, the app also has an ‘I’m safe’ feature that lets others know that you are OK, as well as a learn and test function where you can read about a range of emergencies and test your knowledge on how to respond.

Working in partnership with the Met Office and the Environment Agency, the Red Cross Emergency app will deliver accurate live data feeds. This will enable users to have the information in one handy location, alongside Red Cross emergency preparedness advice.

With the official launch of the app at The Emergency Services Show 2015, the Red Cross will be speaking to emergency response professionals during the two-day exhibition from Stand Z205, providing a ‘hot off the press’ first demo of the app’s functionality.