Vodafone Foundation’s emergency app NG-SOS hits 4 million downloads

Vodafone Foundation’s NG-SOS app has hit 4 million downloads and supported 200,000 emergency calls across Europe.

NG-SOS helps people in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria connect directly to emergency services, and will soon be launching in Bavaria, a state in the southeast of Germany. The app can be used across all the supported regions.

At the click of a button, the app provides the most accurate information about the caller by sending their location, medical profile, next of kin contacts, mobile battery status and more, enabling a faster and more personalised response which saves lives.

NG-SOS includes modules, such as First Aid and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) for users to find instant expert advice for their queries. The Public Warning module provides alerts on crisis, such as water supply contamination, epidemics, and chemical leaks within the region of the user.

The app also includes a video call function allowing users to show emergency services their accident to provide a clearer understanding of the scenario. There are icons within the app depicting different injuries which can be selected to easily communicate an injury if verbal communication is not possible. NG-SOS also provides real time AI translations, which defeat any language barriers for individuals that need to communicate with emergency services in a different language.

The app has also added an avalanche module that regularly monitors and reports avalanche risks. In the event of a call for help, NG-SOS contacts mountain services and rescue teams with the exact location of the caller.

Making a difference in life-or-death situations

An example of the app in action occurred during the mass shooting at Charles University in Prague in late 2023. A civilian within the building used NG-SOS to share their exact location to rescuers, demonstrating the significance of the app at crucial moments such as this one.

The app is also beneficial for those working or visiting remote locations. For instance, Inka Zuzaňákováa is a biomedical engineer at the University Hospital Bulovka, who has used the app to contact emergency services when working with children at a scout camp located in the middle of a forest.

Similarly, Martina Davidová is a horse-riding enthusiast, who has used NG-SOS when she was riding alone and had suffered a fatal fall in a remote location.

NG-SOS is available to download from the App Store and Google Play.
The app is known as Zachranka in Czech Republic, EletMento in Hungary, Rettung in Austria, HZA in Slovakia.