Safety Button
Safety Button allows you to connect to police, fire, or emergency medical help with the press of a button in the Alarm.com app. If you feel unsafe, but are not ready to call 911, you can simply hold down the Safety Button. Once you release the button, you can either cancel the event within 10 seconds or communicate with a trained operator, who can dispatch responders directly to your real-time location. In the event you are unable to communicate, emergency responders will be automatically summoned.
You can also create Safety Button Notes to provide more contextual details to the professional operators and Emergency Contacts that can be shared with the 911 operator.
Requirements
- Safety Button is only available in the U.S.
- A supported service package. For more information, contact your service provider.
- Android/iOS version 5.3.1 or later.
- Precise location must be enabled within the Alarm.com app. For more information, see How do I adjust the location settings for my device?.
- An individual login to the Alarm.com app.
- In order to facilitate emergency response, the Safety Button creates a device specific link to each login.
- Multiple users are able to use Safety Button on an Alarm.com account as long as they have their own login credentials and an available license. For more information on creating Secondary Logins, see Create a new login.
Features
- Personal safety with professional response, all within the Alarm.com app - no additional hardware required
- Smarter, more advanced way to connect to police, fire, or emergency medical help when you need it
- Use Safety Button when you feel scared but are not ready to call 911
- Quickly get help in any situation without the need to dial 911 or make a call or text
- Text dispatchers and responders in an emergency, just in case you can’t or don’t want to talk
- When an event is triggered, the operator can share relevant, timely information with first responders that could be important during an emergency
- When an event is triggered and verified by the dispatch team, the dispatcher can share your emergency contact information with the 911 operator
Set up and use the Safety Button
The Safety Button can be set up and used using the Alarm.com app.
To set up the Safety Button:
- Log into the Alarm.com app.
- In Set up Safety Button, tap Get Started.
- Tap Continue.
- Enter your phone number, then tap Next.
- You will receive a 6-digit verification code by text message. Enter that code, then tap Verify.
- Enter your first and last name.
- Sharing your location is required for accuracy and success of this feature.
- If location settings have not yet been enabled, tap Ok, then tap Allow while using the App.
- It is required to update the location permissions to Always so emergency responders are provided an accurate location. Tap Go To Settings and change the location permissions to Always and tap the Precise Location toggle switch to enable it.
- Once this is changed, return to the Alarm.com app, then tap Next.
- Practice pressing and holding the Hold until safe button and then releasing when instructed.
- An image of your location will display. Tap What If I Don't Need Help?.
- Enter your 4-digit PIN, then tap Create.
- Tap Done.
To use the Safety Button:
- Log into the Alarm.com app.
- Tap Safety Button.
- Tap and hold down the button.
- When Enter PIN if safe displays, the PIN code can be entered within 10 seconds to cancel the alert.
- If the event is not canceled, a trained operator will receive an emergency request with your name, phone number, GPS coordinates, and PIN code. The operator will then send an SMS text message and attempt a call to confirm if help is needed. If there is no response from the SMS, the operator will attempt to call.
Note: An active event can be canceled by tapping I don't need help. This will prompt the user to verify the cancellation using their PIN code. - If there is no response or the event is still not canceled, an emergency response will be dispatched to the last known GPS location.
Note: After a call is placed to the user, the user can still choose to reply by text. If no response is given to either method of communication, an emergency response will be dispatched.
- If the event is not canceled, a trained operator will receive an emergency request with your name, phone number, GPS coordinates, and PIN code. The operator will then send an SMS text message and attempt a call to confirm if help is needed. If there is no response from the SMS, the operator will attempt to call.
Safety Button Notes
Safety Button Notes provide professional operators with more contextual details such as who you plan to meet with or if a suspicious vehicle is parked outside of your home. If you trigger an event for assistance, the relevant information is shared with first responders so they can be better prepared for the situation.
Caution: Adding a note is not a replacement for using Safety Button in an emergency. This information is only shared with first responders when a customer triggers an alarm.
To use Safety Button Notes:
- Log into the Alarm.com app.
- Tap Safety Button.
- Tap Notes.
- Tap .
- Enter the desired note details.
- Tap to enable the Mark as Important toggle switch to mark the note as important.
- Tap Create.
Safety Button Emergency Contacts
Emergency contacts can be added to your Safety Button profile. When an event occurs and the dispatch team verifies it, they will share your emergency contact with the 911 operator.
Note: The police and first responders will determine whether to contact your emergency contact based on their standard protocol for responding to an emergency. Alarm.com will not contact your emergency contact when an event is triggered.
To use Safety Button Emergency Contacts
Note: There is no limit to the number of contacts that can be added.
- Log into the Alarm.com app.
- Tap Safety Button.
- Tap .
- Tap Emergency Contacts.
- Tap Add Contact.
- Add new or existing emergency contact information.
- To add a new contact, enter the desired name and phone number.
- To add an existing contact, tap Add From Contact List, then select the desired contact.
- Tap Submit.
Frequently asked questions
Does the safety button replace calling 911?
No. The Safety Button is not a replacement for calling 911. However, the Safety Button uses modern technology to make it advantageous for our mobile and connected world:
- Safety Button allows users to communicate with help using text
- Safety Button provides highly accurate location data as well as other vital information from the customer's smart device and the Alarm.com app, which can help in an emergency, and can be shared with local first responders in the event help is needed
How do I adjust the location settings for my device?
Note: The process to adjust location settings may vary based on the device.
Android
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap Alarm.com.
- Tap Permissions.
- Tap to enable the Location toggle switch.
iOS
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Alarm.com.
- Tap Location.
- In Allow location access, select Always.
- Tap to enable the Precise Location toggle switch.
Can all logins view Safety Button?
Logins are only able to view the Safety Button feature if there are available licenses. Additionally, logins must be Master Control, Full Control, or Custom logins with the Manage Safety Button permission enabled.
If a login with proper permissions is unable to access the Safety Button feature, it is possible all available licenses have been used. To remove existing logins from the feature, see Is it possible to remove a login from using the Safety Button feature?. To add additional licenses, contact your service provider.
Is it possible to remove a login from using the Safety Button feature?
Yes. The Primary User or logins with the custom Manage Safety Button permission are able to remove logins to free up licenses for the Safety Button feature.
To remove a login:
- Log into the Alarm.com app.
- Tap Safety Button.
- Tap .
- Tap Manage Subscription.
- Tap Disable to disable the feature for the desired login.
Can Safety Button be used outside of the US?
No. Safety Button is currently only available to use while within the United States. Users traveling outside the country will see messaging on the Safety Button card noting that this feature is not available while outside the United States.