Complete guide to using Emergencize effectively
Emergencize is a supplementary alert system designed to notify your personal emergency contacts. It should NOT replace calling 911 or local emergency services in life-threatening situations. Always contact official emergency services first in genuine emergencies.
Welcome to Emergencize! To get started, visit the website and click "Get Started" to create your account. Enter your email address and create a strong password, then click "Sign Up". If you already have an account, click "Sign In" and enter your credentials to access your dashboard.
Your emergency contacts are the people who will receive your alerts. Go to your Dashboard and click "Contacts" or "Add Contact". Enter your contact's email address and click "Send Request". Your contact needs to have an Emergencize account and must accept your friend request. Once accepted, they'll appear in your contacts list. You can customize contacts by adding nicknames and setting their relationship (Family, Friend, Coworker, etc.).
Emergencize has two types of emergency buttons: HELP Button (Blue) for non-critical situations like car trouble, lost wallet, or needing a ride - this sends alerts instantly to online contacts only with one tap. DANGER Button (Red) for life-threatening emergencies like medical crises or immediate danger - press and HOLD for 3 seconds to prevent accidental activation, and it sends to ALL contacts (both online and offline). After sending an alert, your contacts receive an instant notification, your GPS coordinates are included (if enabled), you'll see a visual confirmation, and the alert is saved in your notification history.
When you first use Emergencize, your browser will ask for location permission - click "Allow" to enable location sharing. Your contacts can see exactly where you are during an emergency, which helps first responders or friends find you quickly. Location is only shared when YOU send an alert and is not tracked or stored when you're not sending alerts. You can revoke permission anytime in browser settings. Look for the location icon on your dashboard: Green means location is enabled, Red or crossed out means location is disabled.
To use the chat feature, click the "Chat" icon on your dashboard or the chat button in the sidebar. Type your message in the text box at the bottom and press Enter or click the send button - messages appear in real-time. All your emergency contacts can see and respond in the group chat, making it perfect for coordinating during emergencies. Use chat to provide updates on your situation, coordinate meeting points or actions, and share additional information beyond the initial alert.
The dashboard contains several key elements: Emergency Buttons (large blue HELP button and red DANGER button in the center, always visible and easy to access), Online Contacts (see which contacts are currently online with green dots for available contacts and gray dots for offline contacts), Stats Cards (view your alert history, total contacts, and connection status), and Navigation Bar (Home, Dashboard, Notifications, and Settings).
To view your notifications, click the bell icon in the navigation bar or click "Notifications" in the menu. You'll see alerts you've sent, alerts you've received from contacts, friend requests, and system notifications. You can mark alerts as read, view location details, see timestamps, and delete old notifications.
Open Settings by clicking the gear icon or "Settings" button. In Profile Settings, you can update your display name, change email address, update password, and add emergency information like medical conditions and allergies. Notification Settings allow you to enable/disable sound alerts, push notifications, and vibration. Accessibility Settings include high contrast, font size adjustment, screen reader optimization, keyboard navigation, and reduced motion options. Privacy Settings let you control location sharing, online status visibility, and alert history.
Your dashboard shows your current connection status in three modes: Real-Time Mode (Green) - fully connected to internet and servers with instant notifications and all features available; Standard Mode (Yellow) - connected to internet with some possible delays but all features work and alerts saved to database; Offline Mode (Red) - no internet connection with alerts queued locally that will send when connection returns. In Offline Mode, don't panic - the app still works, alerts are saved locally on your device, they'll automatically send when connection returns, and you should keep the browser tab open if possible.
If your version includes geofencing, you can set up safe zones. Open Geofence Manager in Settings or Dashboard and click "Create Safe Zone". Select zone type (Home, Work, School, etc.), set the location (address or GPS), choose radius (how large the zone is), and enable entry/exit notifications. You'll get notified when you enter or leave a safe zone, and contacts can see if you're in a known safe location.
Quick Actions provide fast access to common tasks including: Add Contact (quickly invite someone new), Test Alert (send a test notification), View Location (check your current GPS coordinates), Emergency Info (access emergency numbers), and Settings (jump to settings).
Before an emergency: Add at least 3-5 trusted contacts, send test alerts to verify everything works, always keep location services on, add to home screen on mobile, and keep your contact list current. During an emergency: Stay calm and take a breath before sending alert, choose the right button (HELP for assistance, DANGER for critical situations), send the alert following button instructions, use chat to provide updates, and focus on safety after alert is sent. After an emergency: Let contacts know you're safe, check notification history, appreciate those who responded, and adjust settings if needed.
Your data is protected with encryption for all communications, privacy controls ensuring location is only shared when you send alerts, you control who receives your alerts, and password-protected account security. Best practices: Don't share your password, use a strong unique password, only add people you trust as contacts, review your contacts regularly, and log out on shared devices.
Alerts reach your contacts through two methods: Real-Time (Fastest) uses live internet connection for instant delivery when both you and contact are online. Database (Reliable) saves to secure database where contact receives when they log in, working even if they're offline. Emergencize uses both methods for reliability, ensuring alerts always get through with redundancy for critical situations.
Is Emergencize free? Yes, the basic emergency alert features are free for everyone. Do contacts need an account? Yes, your emergency contacts must create an Emergencize account to receive your alerts. Can I use this on my phone? Yes! Emergencize works on any device with a web browser and you can add it to your home screen. What's the difference between HELP and DANGER? HELP is for non-critical situations and sends to online contacts only. DANGER is for life-threatening emergencies and sends to ALL contacts. Can I cancel an alert after sending? Once sent, an alert cannot be cancelled, but you can immediately send a follow-up message via chat to clarify.
To add Emergencize to your home screen on iPhone/iPad: Open Emergencize in Safari, tap the Share button, scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen", then tap "Add". On Android: Open Emergencize in Chrome, tap the menu (3 dots), tap "Add to Home Screen", then tap "Add". Mobile advantages include quick access from home screen, works like a native app, faster loading, offline capabilities, and push notifications.
Recommended setup includes: Add family, close friends, and coworkers as multiple contacts; test alerts monthly to ensure everything works; keep your profile and contacts current; bookmark on desktop for easy access; create home screen shortcut for quick mobile access. For emergency preparedness: Discuss with contacts how they should respond to alerts, share your emergency plan with trusted contacts, keep important medical information in your profile, know local emergency numbers (911, etc.), and have backup communication methods.
DO: Add trusted contacts who can actually help in emergencies, keep location services enabled for accurate alerts, test your alerts regularly, use HELP for non-critical situations, use DANGER only for real emergencies, keep your contact list updated, and enable notifications for instant alerts. DON'T: Share your password with anyone, use DANGER button for non-emergencies, add people you don't trust, ignore location permission requests, forget to test your setup, rely solely on this app (always call 911 for life-threatening emergencies), or send spam alerts to test repeatedly.
Always call 911 (or your local emergency number) first for: Life-threatening medical emergencies, active crimes in progress, fires, serious accidents, or any situation requiring police, fire, or ambulance. Emergencize is a supplement to, not a replacement for, official emergency services. Use Emergencize to alert your personal network while waiting for professional help.
Ensure you're fully set up by completing these steps: Create Emergencize account, log in successfully, add at least 3 emergency contacts, have contacts accept friend requests, enable location services, send and receive test alert, explore emergency chat feature, customize settings and preferences, add app to home screen (mobile), enable push notifications, review alert types (HELP vs DANGER), and discuss emergency response with contacts.
Emergencize is designed to be accessible for everyone with built-in accessibility features including: Screen Reader Support (compatible with all major screen readers), Keyboard Navigation (full keyboard control), High Contrast Mode (better visibility), Customizable Font Sizes (adjust text size), Motion Controls (reduce or disable animations), and Color-Blind Friendly design (clear visual indicators beyond color). To enable these features: Open Settings, go to Accessibility section, toggle desired features on/off, adjust to your preferences, and save changes.
If you have any questions about using Emergencize, please reach out to us.
Contact DeveloperThis documentation is designed to help you use Emergencize safely and effectively. Please read through all sections to ensure you understand how to use the emergency alert system.