Technology is becoming prevalent now more than ever - we rely heavily on it to communicate with everyone around us, use it to read breaking news, and are alerted in the event of an emergency with Alert Ready. But in the event of an emergency, how should you be using your technology to reap the benefits? Just in time for Emergency Preparedness Week, here are our top tips:
Put it in writing
Gone are the days of relying solely on voice communication. When possible, try to use written communication, whether it be through text messages, emails, or social media. This is a fast, convenient way to communicate, without using the bandwidth or dependant phone service of a traditional phone call.
Keep it short
For all conversations, try to keep the duration of your message to a minimum, and get straight to the point with vital information only. This will save your phone’s battery life, and prevent network congestion.
Batteries save lives
The last thing you want to happen in an emergency is a dead device, so your emergency kit should have extra batteries or chargers for your mobile. Aside from a traditional charger, you may want to consider investing in a solar-powered, crank, or vehicle phone charger. Other ways to conserve your battery life include exiting all of your open apps, turning down the brightness of your screen, and switching your phone to low-power mode.
Keep your information up to date
Not only should your phone have current contacts saved for easy access, but you should also save a safe meeting location (coordinates and all) in your mapping app for later reference.
If you’re planning to rely on technology, use these helpful tips to be prepared in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. And remember, your device has an emergency call function in the bottom left of your screen, in case you’re in a situation where you can’t dial 911.
Looking for tips to prepare for Alert Ready? Check out our post on how the National Public Alerting System affects your business.