The UK government’s new emergency service, which will alert the public to potentially life-threatening events via their mobile phones, will be tested for the first time later this month.
The warning system follows similar systems that warn people of extreme weather conditions in the US, Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Cabinet Secretary Oliver Dowden said the new protocol will change our ability to warn and inform people who are in imminent danger. “As we have seen in the US and elsewhere, phone buzz can save lives,” he added.
Can I disable the notification?
Yes, you can opt out of receiving emergency notifications by going to your device settings, whether you have an Android device or an iPhone.
Your mobile device settings should have an Emergency Notifications section, which should be in the Notifications section. In this section, you can choose which alerts you want to enable or disable.
Notifications work across all 4G and 5G phone networks, but older “non-smartphones” are not enabled as the 3G technology they use will be phased out next year. The government said people would be informed differently if they don’t have a compatible device.
You will receive notifications based on your current location, but you do not need to turn on location services to receive notifications.
If you receive a warning, stop working and follow the instructions in the warning. You must acknowledge the warning before you can use other phone features.
What time does the notification arrive?
The first test of the emergency alert goes to the phones at 15:00 on Sunday, April 23. People will receive a text message that reads: “This is a test from Emergency Alerts, the UK’s new public service, to alert you if there is a life-threatening emergency nearby.
“In this emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to protect yourself and others.
“Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information.
“This is a test. You don’t have to do anything.”
Who is sending the notification?
Alerts are sent only by emergency services or government agencies, agencies and government bodies involved in disaster management.
You can receive warnings of severe flooding, fire, or extreme weather conditions.
what will you hear
When you receive a notification, your phone or tablet may vibrate, make a loud siren sound even if it is muted, or the message can be read aloud.
Source: I News
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