How to create an EMERGENCY folder on a mobile device (and wh

[Horace Algier]

Do you create an EMERGENCY folder on your mobile device (and what do you
put inside)?

I just created an "Emergency" folder on my phone.
http://i.cubeupload.com/QBxJ7i.png

What would you suggest goes inside your emergency folder?

a. 911
b. Police/fire scanner
c. What else?

A. 911
* I created a local and normal 911 contact
* I long pressed on those emergency 911 contacts
* I hit "Add shortcut to home" ( http://i.cubeupload.com/da4Qbt.png )
* This created a desktop shortcut to move each into the emergency folder

B. Scanner
* I opened Firefox to broadcastify/listen/ctid/226
* I pressed the start to bookmark the URL
* I opened the bookmarks editor & long pressed on the bookmark
* I selected the "save to desktop" option
* This created a desktop shortcut to move into the emergency folder

C. What else goes inside your mobile device emergency folder?

 

[Rod Speed]

Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> wrote

> Do you create an EMERGENCY folder on your mobile device

Nope, iOS has a much better system for that that
allows that stuff to be displayed by anyone.

> (and what do you put inside)?

I don’t bother myself.

I just created an "Emergency" folder on my phone.
http://i.cubeupload.com/QBxJ7i.png

What would you suggest goes inside your emergency folder?

I don’t put anything in mine.

The local cops do have their own number and that is much more
useful than our equivalent of your 911 number. I just have it as
a normal phone number but with AAA in front of it so it shows up
right at the top of the contacts list.

a. 911
b. Police/fire scanner

Illegal here.

> c. What else?

We do have a live traffic app provided by the govt that does
allow you to see traffic congestion, but google maps does a
much better job of traffic. The app is good for roads closed
by flooding and fire etc.

A. 911
* I created a local and normal 911 contact
* I long pressed on those emergency 911 contacts
* I hit "Add shortcut to home" ( http://i.cubeupload.com/da4Qbt.png )
* This created a desktop shortcut to move each into the emergency folder

B. Scanner
* I opened Firefox to broadcastify/listen/ctid/226
* I pressed the start to bookmark the URL
* I opened the bookmarks editor & long pressed on the bookmark
* I selected the "save to desktop" option
* This created a desktop shortcut to move into the emergency folder

C. What else goes inside your mobile device emergency folder?

Nothing. Our system does allow the authorities to send SMSs to
those in areas affected by large scale emergencies, but that is
entirely driven by them, it gets sent to cellphones that are logged
on to particular bases etc and requires no action by individuals.

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

Go away. Your blatherings are not appropriate to this group, and your subjects are both useless and trivial. That some rise to the bait enabling your illness is sad, but entirely human.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[Kees Nuyt]

On Wed, 28 Sep 2016 09:39:16 +1000, "Rod Speed"
<rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:

Nothing. Our system does allow the authorities to send SMSs to
those in areas affected by large scale emergencies, but that is
entirely driven by them, it gets sent to cellphones that are logged
on to particular bases etc and requires no action by individuals.

Strictly speaking that's not SMS, that's CB (Cell Broadcast).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_Broadcast

--
Kees Nuyt

 

[Rod Speed]

"Kees Nuyt" <k.nuyt@nospam.demon.nl> wrote in message
news:ar6nub5jkjj4lj6spa591udct3iuqlnpj5@dim53.demon.nl...

On Wed, 28 Sep 2016 09:39:16 +1000, "Rod Speed"
rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:

Nothing. Our system does allow the authorities to send SMSs to
those in areas affected by large scale emergencies, but that is
entirely driven by them, it gets sent to cellphones that are logged
on to particular bases etc and requires no action by individuals.

Strictly speaking that's not SMS, that's CB (Cell Broadcast).

Its actually SMS-CB as the below says.

> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_Broadcast

 

[Horace Algier]

On Tue, 27 Sep 2016 22:35:52 -0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:

a. 911
b. Police/fire scanner
c. What else?

Rod Speed brought up a point about having Google Traffic on a quick
push-button link, so that you don't waste time in a hectic situation.

Looking it up, these two articles show how easy it is to add a traffic link
to the desktop:
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291823?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
http://lifehacker.com/5426824/create-instant-navigation-shortcuts-from-androids-home-screen

Basically you simply long press on your desktop, and set it up from there.

Here are the simple steps, as I tried them on my phone just now:
1. http://i.cubeupload.com/PhtFyG.png (I long pressed on the desktop)
2. http://i.cubeupload.com/gkr0SO.png (I selected 'shortcuts')
3. http://i.cubeupload.com/JklWuv.png (I selected 'Maps')
4. http://i.cubeupload.com/yk0zXa.png (I entered my destination)
5. http://i.cubeupload.com/qUEtUb.png (Pressing 'save' created a link)
6. http://i.cubeupload.com/STiVuF.png (That link opens up Google Maps)

Of course, it won't work for me (since I don't have any google accounts),
but it should work for most of you (who do have google accounts).

 

[Horace Algier]

On Wed, 28 Sep 2016 09:39:16 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:

Do you create an EMERGENCY folder on your mobile device

Nope, iOS has a much better system for that that
allows that stuff to be displayed by anyone.

That's interesting that iOS has a "system" which includes fire/police
scanning.

How does that iOS method you allude to figure out which fire/police scanner
to broadcast in the USA and countries that allow it?

(and what do you put inside)?

I don˘t bother myself.

Emergencies happen, so, it's not a bad idea to be prepared for them, ahead
of time.

For example, if you see a fire threatening your only access out, you might
not want to waste time *looking* for a frequency to tell you which
evacuation route they're using.

Sure, if you're lucky, the police will come by ahead of time broadcasting
it, and signs will be up, and everyone you ask will be informed ... but
that's not always how well organized it's gonna be.

I just created an "Emergency" folder on my phone.
http://i.cubeupload.com/QBxJ7i.png

What would you suggest goes inside your emergency folder?

I don˘t put anything in mine.

The local cops do have their own number and that is much more
useful than our equivalent of your 911 number. I just have it as
a normal phone number but with AAA in front of it so it shows up
right at the top of the contacts list.

That's useful to put AAA on top, as it will save precious seconds when
needed. Of course, 911 also works, when needed (but in my case, that
dispatcher is 75 miles away).

It will be interesting to see how other people prepare their mobile devices
for emergencies.

a. 911
b. Police/fire scanner

Illegal here.

Wow. You can't even *listen* to radio broadcasts?
And I thought *we* were oppressed!

c. What else?

We do have a live traffic app provided by the govt that does
allow you to see traffic congestion, but google maps does a
much better job of traffic. The app is good for roads closed
by flooding and fire etc.

Actually, that's a great point in that we should add a link to Google Maps
for traffic congestion around our home.

It should be as simple as the Google Map link (which is huge) saved as a
desktop shortcut. I'll add it to mine. Thanks for that idea.

How to add a Google Maps shortcut to your desktop
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291823?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

How to create instant map shortcuts on your home screen
http://lifehacker.com/5426824/create-instant-navigation-shortcuts-from-androids-home-screen

Nothing. Our system does allow the authorities to send SMSs to
those in areas affected by large scale emergencies, but that is
entirely driven by them, it gets sent to cellphones that are logged
on to particular bases etc and requires no action by individuals.

As you noted, the authorities used a reverse-911 to notify every cellphone
within the towers receiving area, to let people know about the evacuation.

But you can't always rely on the authorities, and, if you have cats, dogs,
chickens, etc., you may need to instantly call for help - which should all
be on a quick-dial mechanism in the emergency folder, IMHO, in order of 1 2
3, left to right, top to bottom.

 

[Horace Algier]

On Wed, 28 Sep 2016 16:00:01 -0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:

Here are the simple steps, as I tried them on my phone just now:
1. http://i.cubeupload.com/PhtFyG.png (I long pressed on the desktop)
2. http://i.cubeupload.com/gkr0SO.png (I selected 'shortcuts')
3. http://i.cubeupload.com/JklWuv.png (I selected 'Maps')
4. http://i.cubeupload.com/yk0zXa.png (I entered my destination)
5. http://i.cubeupload.com/qUEtUb.png (Pressing 'save' created a link)
6. http://i.cubeupload.com/STiVuF.png (That link opens up Google Maps)

Correction...

Here are the simple steps, as I tried them on my phone just now:
1. http://i.cubeupload.com/PhtFyG.png (I long pressed on the desktop)
2. http://i.cubeupload.com/gkr0SO.png (I selected 'shortcuts')
3. http://i.cubeupload.com/JklWuv.png (I selected *'Directions'*)
4. http://i.cubeupload.com/yk0zXa.png (I entered my destination)
5. http://i.cubeupload.com/qUEtUb.png (Pressing 'save' created a link)
6. http://i.cubeupload.com/STiVuF.png (It will do whatever you've set up)

If someone knows how to do the same thing on iOS, please advise so that the
iOS users also benefit by having a traffic link in their emergency folder,
if desired.

 

[tlvp]

On Wed, 28 Sep 2016 20:56:01 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:

Strictly speaking that's not SMS, that's CB (Cell Broadcast).

Its actually SMS-CB as the below says.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_Broadcast

Please read more attentively, and without snipping the *important* parts:

: Cell Broadcast/Cell Information (CB) messaging ...
: ... is also known as Short Message Service-Cell Broadcast (SMS-CB).

So: not "is actually" but "is also known as". YvW. Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

 

[Kerr Mudd-John]

On Wed, 28 Sep 2016 20:11:28 +0100, tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> wrote:

On Wed, 28 Sep 2016 20:56:01 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:

Strictly speaking that's not SMS, that's CB (Cell Broadcast).

Its actually SMS-CB as the below says.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_Broadcast

Please read more attentively, and without snipping the *important* parts:

: Cell Broadcast/Cell Information (CB) messaging ...
: ... is also known as Short Message Service-Cell Broadcast (SMS-CB).

So: not "is actually" but "is also known as". YvW. Cheers, -- tlvp

PDTFT
FU set
--
Bah, and indeed, Humbug

 

[Ron D.]

Well, for "my emergency use" I put a contact name that's basically something like "0_If Found Call". I'm hoping if a nice person found my phone, they might look at the contacts. You could always call one like Home or mom or something. I just made it easier.

I have an app, that if I TXT a message with a certain subject to my phone, the ring volume raises to max. This is so i can do the locate thing by calling it.
My phone has a few hiding places it likes. Side of the car seat, bed, side of a chair. I try to only put the phone in specific spaces like sid eof the bed (charging), Living room couch (charging), and on top of a TV.

So, the most important thing is for me to be able to find my phone.

I do need to add the police non-emergency number like a tree down in a road in my contacts list and I do need to back-up my SIM card. I have a specific device that can do that.

I have a very early Android device that's practically useless.

 

[Rod Speed]

Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> wrote

Rod Speed wrote

Do you create an EMERGENCY folder on your mobile device

Nope, iOS has a much better system for that that
allows that stuff to be displayed by anyone.

That's interesting that iOS has a "system"
which includes fire/police scanning.

I didn’t mean that. I was talking about a quite different emergency,
when someone finds you unconscious or incapable and needs to
contact someone you have specified to tell them that you have
been found unconscious or incapable to tell them you have been
taken to a particular hospital etc. I meant to go back and restate
that when I had finished the rest of the post but managed to
forget to do that until after I had sent the post.

How does that iOS method you allude to figure
out which fire/police scanner to broadcast in
the USA and countries that allow it?

It doesn’t.

(and what do you put inside)?

I don˘t bother myself.

Emergencies happen,

Yes, but I don’t need any particular way to deal with
those except to put the local number for the cops
that works a lot better than our equivalent of the
911 number at the top of the contacts where I
need to use it to call the cops if I need to do that.

> so, it's not a bad idea to be prepared for them, ahead of time.

And I do, but not in the way you do that.

For example, if you see a fire threatening your only access out,
you might not want to waste time *looking* for a frequency
to tell you which evacuation route they're using.

We don’t do it that way, like I said, our system uses
SMS-CB to tell you that and that requires no specific
action on your part at all except to have your phone
turned on so you can receive that.

And in our case the Live Traffic app does a much better
job of showing you which evacuation routes are viable
with floods, bushfires etc than any frequency does.

Sure, if you're lucky, the police will come by ahead of time broadcasting
it, and signs will be up, and everyone you ask will be informed ... but
that's not always how well organized it's gonna be.

That's why we use SMS-CB. Not perfect, because there are
still a few people who don’t have cellphones and there will
always be some in an emergency whose phones have got
flat batterys, but a lot better than telling people by knocking
on their doors. At least those who do have working phones
can tell others who don’t what the SMS-CB has told them.

I just created an "Emergency" folder on my phone.
http://i.cubeupload.com/QBxJ7i.png

What would you suggest goes inside your emergency folder?

I don't put anything in mine.

The local cops do have their own number and that is much
more useful than our equivalent of your 911 number. I just
have it as a normal phone number but with AAA in front
of it so it shows up right at the top of the contacts list.

That's useful to put AAA on top, as it will
save precious seconds when needed.

Yes, that's why I do it like that.

Of course, 911 also works, when needed (but
in my case, that dispatcher is 75 miles away).

The problem with mine is that they don’t connect
you directly to the local police station, they connect
you to the cops 100 miles away for some reason.

It will be interesting to see how other people
prepare their mobile devices for emergencies.

Surprisingly few have commented yet.

a. 911
b. Police/fire scanner

Illegal here.

Wow. You can't even *listen* to radio broadcasts?

You can't listen to the communication between those crews.
Those arent broadcasts.

> And I thought *we* were oppressed!

Nothing to do with oppression.

You arent allowed to listen in to other people's cellphone
conversations either, although that isnt even possible now
the entire system is GSM/LTE. It was possible with the original
AMPS system.

c. What else?

We do have a live traffic app provided by the govt that does
allow you to see traffic congestion, but google maps does a
much better job of traffic. The app is good for roads closed
by flooding and fire etc.

Actually, that's a great point in that we should add a link
to Google Maps for traffic congestion around our home.

It should be as simple as the Google Map link (which is huge) saved
as a desktop shortcut. I'll add it to mine. Thanks for that idea.

How to add a Google Maps shortcut to your desktop
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291823?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

How to create instant map shortcuts on your home screen
http://lifehacker.com/5426824/create-instant-navigation-shortcuts-from-androids-home-screen

Nothing. Our system does allow the authorities to send SMSs
to those in areas affected by large scale emergencies, but that is
entirely driven by them, it gets sent to cellphones that are logged
on to particular bases etc and requires no action by individuals.

As you noted, the authorities used a reverse-911 to notify every cellphone
within the towers receiving area, to let people know about the evacuation.

Its not a reverse 911, its SMS-CB, a variant of SMS.

But you can't always rely on the authorities, and, if you have cats,
dogs, chickens, etc., you may need to instantly call for help -

You wont get it here with those except when you call your neighbours etc.

which should all be on a quick-dial mechanism in the emergency
folder, IMHO, in order of 1 2 3, left to right, top to bottom.

The iOS contacts system does allow an emergency category in the contacts.

It also allows you to list those you want to be called if say you are found
unconscious or incapable and that is visible on the lock screen of your
idevice so anyone can get those details from there as long as your
phone is still working.

 

[Rod Speed]

tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> wrote

Rod Speed wrote

Strictly speaking that's not SMS, that's CB (Cell Broadcast).

Its actually SMS-CB as the below says.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_Broadcast

Please read more attentively,

Go and fuck yourself.

> and without snipping the *important* parts:

I snipped nothing.

: Cell Broadcast/Cell Information (CB) messaging ...
: ... is also known as Short Message Service-Cell Broadcast (SMS-CB).

So: not "is actually" but "is also known as".

You are wrong, as always.

 

[Chris]

Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:

Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> wrote
Rod Speed wrote


It will be interesting to see how other people
prepare their mobile devices for emergencies.

Surprisingly few have commented yet.

No, not surprising at all.

 

[Rod Speed]

Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote

Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> wrote
Rod Speed wrote

It will be interesting to see how other people
prepare their mobile devices for emergencies.

Surprisingly few have commented yet.

No, not surprising at all.

Have fun explaining why they have done with his other stuff.

 

[Horace Algier]

On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 22:48:49 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:

Surprisingly few have commented yet.

No, not surprising at all.

Have fun explaining why they have done with his other stuff.

The number of posts in a thread is absolutely meaningless.

In most threads, most of the comments are unhelpful noise anyway, so, one
or two good technical accurate responses is about all *any* thread could
hope for in the best of curcumstances.

To that end, I *try* (but sometimes fail) to make "my" posts packed with as
much value as I can pack into them, so that all benefit from the
conversation.

I also almost always *try* the suggestions proposed, if they are
reasonable, and if they fit the circumstances.

Based on taking up all suggestions in this thread, what we have together
developed, so far, is this emergency folder capability:
http://i.cubeupload.com/MPNlDb.gif

a. Local 911 (if applicable in your area)
b. CHP 911
c. Evacuation Route Traffic
d. Police/Fire Scanner (if legal in your area)
e. ?

In addition, I'm working on a button to send out an alert SMS to the family
that also sends the GPS coordinates.

1. For example, this emergencySMS app "says" it will send out a
pre-recorded text to three people at the touch of a button:
- Emergency SMS By DASTIS Communication
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emergency.sms

2. This Emergency reverse-SMS app "says" it will alert you by sound (even
if the phone is on silent or vibrate) if you receive a text from someone
using a pre-defined code word:
- TeXTe - Emergency SMS by Curly Y.
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ravid.dev.esms

3. This emergency 911-related SMS app "says" it will alert your family any
time you call 911:
- 911HelpSMS ( 911 Help SMS ) By Safety Now Solutions
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cabmatch.help911

4. This Emergency SMS app "says" it will alert people with a pre-recorded
message and your GPS location when you press the sleep button a few times
- Emergency Alert By xAnkle
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xankle.mobile.sos

5. This alert app "says" it will alert by phone or email with your GPS
location on a map snapshot along with a pre-recorded message:
- Emergency Button By Andluck
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emergency.button
etc.

As always, there is so much good freeware out there that the "price" is the
testing to find the best ones - which is why I *asked* what *you* put in
*your* emergency folder (assuming you've tested emergency apps).

 

[Horace Algier]

On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 13:56:06 -0400, nospam wrote:

I also almost always *try* the suggestions proposed, if they are
reasonable, and if they fit the circumstances.

no you don't.

The difference between you and me is that I try to be helpful (which takes
effort on my part).

I wouldn't normally even respond to your supremely unhelpful post above,
but I do have one thing to say regarding the emergency contact setup that I
just tried, after testing out *all* the suggestions people made:
http://i.cubeupload.com/MPNlDb.gif

The fact that we can change the *name* of *any* app whatsoever could be
helpful, in an emergency context, since we can remove the "brand" name of
the app, and just list what function it has for emergency purposes.

Just by way of example, you'll notice in the latter screenshot above that I
changed the pre-installed "Messages" app to read "sns/mms" (sic), [which I
have just now updated to "sms/mms", after noticing the typo in that
screenshot).

The point is that we can change *any* app name we want, which is useful in
an emergency folder, becuase the brand name isn't going to be instantly
recognized, since we use it so little - but the FUNCTIONALITY (as always)
is paramount ...

*So we can name the Emergency app by its FUNCTIONALITY!*

By way of example, I just changed the pre-installed YouTube app name to
"old youtube" because it's an older version that doesn't do advertisements,
and I changed VLC to "vlc player" just to test if I was able to change the
name of both pre-installed and post-installed apps.

Turns out it's really easy to remove those silly brand names to change the
name of the app to something that makes sense to you. Just long press on
the app icon, and you can change the name to anything you want.

This ability to name any existing app what *you* want to name it is very
useful for an emergency folder, where brand names are meaningless, and
where the *functionality* of the app is paramount.

You can even named the emergency apps "1" "2" "3", etc., so that you can
just press them quickly in an emergency.

Whatever you name them is totally up to you, but this capability to edit
the app name no matter what the app is, will give the emergency folder a
*consistency* which can save time in an emergency since you can name them
"do this first" or "call police and fire" or whatever you want to name the
apps, even if they're apps from the app store.

See this screenshot for the summary of how to change the name of any app on
an unrooted Android device (I'm on Android 4.3, Nova free launcher).
http://i.cubeupload.com/rkBFU9.jpg

 

[Horace Algier]

On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 06:00:48 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:

The iOS contacts system does allow an emergency category in the contacts.

It also allows you to list those you want to be called if say you are found
unconscious or incapable and that is visible on the lock screen of your
idevice so anyone can get those details from there as long as your
phone is still working.

I generally tackle all problems on both iOS and Android, particularly for
emergencies, because you'll never know what you will have in your hands at
the time of an emergency.

On iOS 9.x, when I open contacts and search for "ice" or for "emergency", I
get nothing (not surprisingly, because I never set up anything).

Looking about in iOS contacts, I don't see any overt mention of an
"emergency" system.

Googling, I find this article:
3 Features You Should Enable in iOS 8
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2468891,00.asp

In that article, they talk about a "Health" app that Apple supplied in iOS
8, which doesn't seem to be on my device in iOS9 (I skipped iOS 8
altogether since I update the device as little as possible since all hell
broke loose outside the walled garden the penultimate time I updated).

Hmmmm... no "Health" app on this iPad. I only have one desktop screen, and
there's no health app on it, nor in Settings General on the left column.

So, scratch that method (maybe it works only on phones?).

Moving on to another reference, I find this:
https://snapguide.com/guides/add-ice-in-case-of-emergency-contacts-for-iphone/
How to Add ICE (In Case of Emergency) Contacts for iPhone

1. Contacts > + > First = ICE 1 - Wife
2. Copy that to "Last" name also (if contacts are reverse sorted).
3. Company = Patty Winter, wife
4. Scroll down to "add field"
5. The article says scroll to the bottom of the popup to add "notes"
but I don't see any notes. I just see:
- Prefix
- Phonetic first name
- Pronunciation first name
- Middle name
- Phonetic middle name
- Phonetic last name
- Pronunciation last name
- Maiden name
- Suffix
- Nickname
- Job title
- Department
6. So I put the phone number in the Company field instead (since there were
no notes fields).
7. Press "Done".

Hmmm... I guess adding ICE is better than doing absolutely nothing, but
it's not much better than doing absolutely nothing.

Rod, can you elucidate a little bit on what you were alluding to when you
mentioned there was some kind of emergency mechanism on iOS?

Thanks!
NOTE: iPad, with SIM data, iOS 9.3.2 (and staying on that until/unless
there is a compelling reason to risk another release)

 

[nospam]

In article <nsjkbi$8t4$1@news.mixmin.net>, Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

I also almost always *try* the suggestions proposed, if they are
reasonable, and if they fit the circumstances.

no you don't.

 

[nospam]

In article <nsjnd9$fag$1@news.mixmin.net>, Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

I generally tackle all problems on both iOS and Android, particularly for
emergencies, because you'll never know what you will have in your hands at
the time of an emergency.

blood.