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Phones Across The UK To Make 'Emergency Alert' Sound

Phones Across The UK To Make 'Emergency Alert' Sound

If you hear your phone make a siren sound, don't panic.

Charlotte Forrester

Charlotte Forrester

If your phone starts making a "loud siren-like sound" unexpectedly, it might not be an alarm you happened to forget about.

The UK government has warned that phones across the country will take part in a nationwide test where "emergency alerts" will sound out.

You may hear a
You may hear a

The test is part of a government plan to distribute warnings to phone users about potential dangers or issues.

According to the government website, the system is set to launch this summer but tests will be happening across the UK.

The test on Tuesday, 22nd June is set to take place between 1pm and 2pm and there's just a small chance you'll get the test alert if you have an android device.

The alert will say: "This is a mobile network operator test of the Emergency Alerts service. You do not need to take any action. To find out more, search for gov.uk/alerts".

However, if you don't want to be a part of these tests, you can opt out of mobile phone network tests.

The alerts are part of a nationwide test for a system set to go live this summer (
Pexels - Ketut Subiyanto)

A second test will take place on Tuesday, 29th June, but only in Reading, Berkshire that time round.

If Reading residents have an iPhone or Android device, they may get an alert that will say: "The UK government is testing Emergency Alerts in Reading, Berkshire. Emergency alerts tell you what to do if there's a life-threatening event nearby. To find out more, call 0808 1697692 or search for gov.uk/alerts".

The website also explains more about what the future of emergency alerts could look like.

It says that when you get an emergency alert, your phone or tablet could make a "loud siren-like sound, even if it's set on silent" as well as vibrate and read out the alert, all of this taking place within around ten seconds.

You must then stop what you're doing and follow the instructions the alert tells you.

The emergency alerts will give info about things like severe flooding and terrorist incidents (
Shutterstock)

The chance of getting an emergency alert when the system goes live is low, says the government website. Reasons you might get an emergency alert can include warnings about severe flooding, fires, explosions, terrorist incidents and public health emergencies.

These types of alerts will only be sent by the emergency services, government departments, agencies and other public bodies that deal with emergencies.

Chances of getting an alert are low (
Pexels - August de Richelieu)

The website says that emergency alerts work like a radio broadcast, where mobile phone masts in the surrounding area will share an alert.

Neither the emergency services nor the UK government need your phone number to send you an alert and they are based on your current location so you could receive one while travelling through an area.

But don't worry, the government reassures that "No one will collect or share data about you, your device or your location when you receive an alert". They also don't work if your device if turned off or in airplane mode and you don't need to download an app or sign up to receive the alerts.

So if you get a siren from your phone today, don't worry, you're not late for anything.

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock

Topics: News, Life, tech