The 112 Canarias application, managed by the Emergency and Safety Coordination Center (CECOES) 112, under the Government of the Canary Islands, has reached 18,700 downloads since its launch in April 2023. Currently, the tool remains active on 3,611 devices and has facilitated the communication of a total of 374 incidents to emergency services.
This application serves as a complementary channel to facilitate citizen contact with emergency services, offering the ability to connect via a voice call or through a text chat. The latter option is particularly useful for individuals with communication difficulties or in situations where speaking may be unsafe.
“"Through the exchange of text messages, more details about the required assistance were obtained, and the necessary resources were activated on-site, including firefighters to facilitate access to the home, Local Police, and an ambulance from the Canary Emergency Service (SUC) for assistance."
Recently, a deaf individual alerted 112 using this tool after suffering a fall at their home in Gran Canaria. The chat communication enabled the activation of necessary resources, including firefighters, Local Police, and an ambulance from the Canary Emergency Service (SUC).
The data connection also allows for sending the alert sender's GPS location, a significant advantage for emergency responders, especially in areas far from urban centers or specific coastal zones.
To use the application after downloading, users can access it via a direct voice call to 112 or by selecting the icon to start a text chat. The app uses pictograms to select the type of emergency and allows users to send images and videos. Optionally, users can configure the reception of alerts and self-protection advice for Emergency Plans in the Canary Islands, such as adverse weather warnings, provided their phone notifications are enabled.
Furthermore, the application can be configured so that when an emergency is reported, 112 Canarias receives the user's personal and medical data to improve response and demand management, and can send an SMS message to a contact indicated by the user.
