Public Emergency Codes

There are situations in which a person may be unable to safely make a traditional voice call. Someone could be hiding from an active threat, experiencing domestic violence, unable to speak because of an injury or medical emergency, or simply need a quieter way to communicate with dispatch.

The app would identify whether the local emergency communications center supports Text-to-911. Where available, a clear text option would appear directly within the emergency interface instead of requiring the user to determine local availability on their own.

The user could then send their location, describe what is happening, and provide continuing updates without speaking. Keeping voice and text options together gives callers another way to communicate when making a sound is unsafe or when speech is not possible.

During a heart attack, stroke, severe allergic reaction, major injury, or other emergency, a caller may be frightened, confused, unconscious, unable to speak, or unable to communicate in the dispatcher’s language. Critical details can be lost precisely when they are needed most.

The app would allow users to securely create an emergency profile containing the information they choose to share, including medications, allergies, medical conditions, emergency contacts, and their preferred spoken language.

When an emergency call or text begins, supported profile information could be sent to the local dispatch center. The caller’s language preference could help dispatchers arrange the appropriate interpreter sooner, while relevant medical details could be passed to responding paramedics or other emergency personnel before they arrive.

This gives dispatchers and first responders clearer information when the caller cannot provide it verbally, helping reduce communication delays and allowing responders to prepare for important medical risks before reaching the patient.

Mobile location technology can provide emergency services with valuable location information, but the location presented to a dispatcher may not always identify the caller's exact entrance, apartment, floor, or position within a complex property. In an emergency, even a small location error can make it harder for responders to find the person who needs help.

The app would show the user a map representing the emergency location information available during the call whenever technically supported. This gives the caller an opportunity to confirm whether the displayed location accurately represents where help is needed.

If the location appears incorrect or incomplete, the user could manually adjust the position, drop a more precise pin, or provide additional location information that can be communicated to dispatch.

Giving the caller a way to verify and supplement automated location data provides another layer of protection against location errors and helps responders navigate more directly to the correct place.

People frequently dial 911 out of habit, even when their situation may be better handled by a mental-health crisis line, community-resource service, or local non-emergency agency. In a stressful moment, most people will not stop to search for another number.

The app would build a visual reminder directly into its emergency dialing screen. When a user enters 911, three clearly labeled alternatives would appear before the call is initiated: 988, 211, and the appropriate local non-emergency number.

This is an in-app safety feature—not a saved-contact workaround and not dependent on adding “NOT 911” to contact names. It uses the familiar act of dialing 911 as the exact moment to remind the user that another service may be more relevant, while always keeping 911 immediately available for true emergencies.

During an emergency, identifying the caller can be difficult—especially in crowded locations, vehicle collisions, public spaces, or situations where the caller becomes unconscious or cannot communicate clearly. Responders may arrive without knowing who made the call or whom they are trying to locate.

The app would allow the user to securely store a current emergency-profile photo. When a 911 call or text begins, the photo could automatically be transmitted to the dispatch center wherever the local system supports receiving images or enhanced emergency data.

Users could also enable an option that captures a new selfie when emergency communication begins, with a clear camera indicator and prior consent. This provides responders with a more current image, helping them identify the caller faster when they arrive at the scene.

A 911 call often affects more than the caller. A family member may need to meet the caller at a hospital, a caregiver may need to assist a child or dependent, or someone nearby may be able to provide responders with important information.

When an emergency call or text begins, the app could automatically notify selected emergency contacts and, with the user’s permission, include the caller’s current location. This could help in situations such as:

1. A medical emergency in which the caller becomes unconscious or is transported to a hospital.
2. A personal-safety incident in which a trusted person should know where the caller was last located.
3. An emergency involving a child, older adult, dependent, or traveler who may require immediate family coordination.

Users would control which contacts are notified and what information is shared. Sensitive details about the emergency would remain private unless the user specifically chooses to include them.

Apartment gates, locked entrances, elevator codes, building numbers, floor information, and complicated property layouts can delay emergency responders even after they arrive at the correct address. A caller who is injured or unable to speak may not be able to provide those instructions.

The app would allow users to save trusted addresses along with important access details, including gate codes, elevator instructions, apartment numbers, floor numbers, entrance locations, and other responder directions.

When an emergency call or text begins, the app would compare the phone’s location with the user’s saved addresses. If the caller appears to be at a matching property, the relevant address and access information could be transmitted automatically to the dispatch center wherever supported, helping responders reach the caller without unnecessary delay.

During a fire, vehicle collision, medical crisis, active threat, or rapidly changing incident, it may be difficult for a caller to describe exactly what is happening. Important details can be misunderstood or lost when communication is limited to voice alone.

The app would provide immediate access to an emergency video recorder from the calling screen. The user could record the incident while remaining connected to the dispatcher and request that the dispatch center view a secure live stream.

Where local emergency systems support video or rich-media communication, the dispatcher could use the footage to better assess the scene, identify immediate dangers, and provide responding units with more accurate information. The app would clearly indicate when video is recording or being shared and would preserve user control over the camera.

Traditional safety applications often require users to repeatedly open an app and press a check-in button. That extra step is easy to forget and makes the system less useful during normal daily life.

The app would allow users to create separate daytime and nighttime safety periods. Instead of requiring a manual check-in, ordinary phone activity—such as unlocking or actively using the device—would automatically reset the inactivity timer. The user could select how long the phone may remain unused before the safety process begins.

After a missed check-in, the app could use a grace period and escalating alerts before contacting anyone. Users could choose to notify emergency contacts, initiate a supported emergency-services escalation, or use a silent mode that alerts only trusted contacts and shares the phone’s last known location.

The silent option could help when a person may be in danger without wanting an audible alarm. It could also assist in locating a lost phone after it has remained unused for the selected period. Any direct automated notification to 911 would require local system support and safeguards designed to prevent accidental or false emergency reports.

A person may be able to use text communication during an emergency but still struggle to explain the situation in the dispatcher’s language. Machine translation outside the emergency conversation requires switching between applications, copying messages, and losing valuable time.

The app would allow the user to type in their preferred language and automatically translate the message into the dispatch center’s working language—English by default within the United States. The original message would remain attached so the dispatcher could review both versions.

Messages sent by the dispatcher would then be translated back into the user’s selected language. This creates a continuous two-way conversation without forcing either person to leave the emergency interface, helping the caller understand instructions and provide critical information more quickly.