Test of National Emergency Alerts System
Posted on April 21 2023 at 12:23
The Scottish Government is taking part in a trial of a new UK government Emergency Alert System. On Sunday, 23rd April at 3pm there will be a national test of the UK emergency alerts service.
Emergency alerts will be used to let the public know about emergency situations, such as severe weather warnings. They will work like a radio broadcast. In an emergency, every compatible mobile phone or tablet in a range of a mast will receive the alert.
It is very important to be aware that the Emergency Alerts will sound even on devices set to silent.
For women living with domestic abuse having access to a hidden, secret phone can be a lifeline. This alert may reveal a secondary phone used for safety purposes.
When you get an Emergency Alert you will hear a loud, siren-like sound and your phone will use a distinct vibration. A message will appear on your screen and will remain there until you acknowledge it.
If it is not safe for you to receive emergency alerts, you can stop the alert by switching devices off or putting them on airplane mode. You can also opt out and turn these alerts off before the test on Sunday, 23rd April. To do this, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’. Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.
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