We spend a lot of time thinking about what we would do in an emergency. But there's another person in that equation who deserves just as much attention: the person receiving our call for help.
Think about it. You've taken the time to download a personal safety app, selected your emergency contacts, and prepared yourself for the unexpected. But have you ever asked those contacts what they would actually do if they received an SOS from you?
It's a conversation worth having.
Being an Emergency Contact Is More Than Being on a List
When someone selects you as an emergency contact, they're placing an enormous amount of trust in you. They're counting on you to recognize when something is wrong, respond appropriately, and potentially help coordinate assistance.
That's a pretty significant responsibility.
But here's something equally important: Being selected as an emergency contact doesn't automatically mean you've agreed to become one.
At Virtual Halo, we believe that being someone's emergency contact should be a responsibility you knowingly accept, not something assigned to you without your permission.
That's why Virtual Halo requires emergency contacts to provide active consent before they can receive emergency text notifications.
Simply adding someone's name and phone number isn't enough. That person must affirmatively accept their role as an emergency contact. Without that consent, they will not receive emergency messages from Virtual Halo.
It's an important distinction, and one that could make all the difference when an emergency occurs.
Five Things Every Emergency Contact Should Know
1. Accept the Responsibility
If someone asks you to be their emergency contact through Virtual Halo, make sure you've completed the consent process. Until you've actively accepted, you won't receive their emergency text notifications. Likewise, if you're setting up your own emergency contacts, verify that the people you've selected have accepted their invitations.
2. Know What an SOS Means
An SOS notification shouldn't be treated like an ordinary text message. If someone sends you an emergency alert, take it seriously. Don't assume they accidentally pressed a button or that somebody else will respond.
3. Know How to Respond
Try contacting the person immediately. If the circumstances suggest an emergency, contact local emergency services and share the information available to you, including their location. Don't delay necessary assistance while waiting for a response.
4. Have a Backup Plan
What happens if you're sleeping, traveling, or unable to answer your phone? Encourage the people who select you as an emergency contact to identify multiple trusted individuals who can assist when needed.
5. Practice Before There's a Problem
Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the personal safety tools your friends and family use. Understand what an alert looks like and what information it provides. If you're testing a safety app, coordinate beforehand so nobody mistakes a practice notification for an actual emergency.
Safety Is a Team Effort
At Virtual Halo, we've always believed that personal safety is about more than technology. It's about people looking out for one another.
Our technology helps individuals communicate when they need assistance, but it's the people receiving those alerts who can make a difference.
And that process begins with something simple: making sure the people you're counting on have agreed to be there for you.
So here's a little homework: Contact the people on your emergency contact list this week. Make sure they've actively accepted their role in Virtual Halo, explain what they might receive, and discuss what to do if something happens.
It's a five-minute conversation that could make an extraordinary difference someday.
Stay safe out there. And look out for one another.