Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

This bloody emergency alert

403 replies

Random789 · 21/04/2023 21:07

It's going to be like when they test the fire alarm at work, isn't it?
You get more and more tense waiting for it, then three minutes before it is due to go off you forget all about it. Then it does go off and you scream like a lunatic and jump so hard that you dislocate something in your neck.

I'd rather just get fried in a nuclear attack and avoid all the stress.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
astarsheis · 21/04/2023 23:01

FFs grow up

theysaiditgetseasier · 21/04/2023 23:05

slowquickstep · 21/04/2023 22:41

Bloody hell it is a 10 second alert what the hell is the issue, is it really going to cause a problem ? Do you all turn your smoke alarms off in case they go off and cause you anxiety ? FFS get a grip

🤣🤣

Newuswr · 21/04/2023 23:07

Go on YouTube and search amber alert notifications to get an idea of what it’s like. It won’t be as loud or scary as a fire alarm drill at work.

Loki64 · 21/04/2023 23:08

Its actually quite useful and important.

I had one through on my phone while i was abroad last year.

Its so useful and its crazy people are turning off the alerts.

Loki64 · 21/04/2023 23:09

Its hardly a scary loud alert thatll cause anxiety. But may really come in handy in future if needed.

FriedEggs1 · 21/04/2023 23:10

XenoBitch · 21/04/2023 21:09

I will be turning my phone off. Seems extreme, but I can't turn off the alert on my phone. It wont let me.

It's not extreme 🙂

Fizbosshoes · 21/04/2023 23:10

NeverTrustAPoliceman · 21/04/2023 22:01

Fizbosshoes most marathon runners will have their phones with them to track their progress surely?

Most runners I know wouldn't run with their phones, but would have a garmin or similar GPS watch....but no idea if they are representative of all the runners there.
I've done several marathons and never run with a phone. I take my phone on long training runs but I want to carry as little as possible on race day

friendlycat · 21/04/2023 23:17

I really don’t understand the drama that some are making of this issue. We are way way behind so many other countries that have this, and have done for years.

If you don’t want it on your phone (your choice) just look online how to turn it off.

MakeMineADouble81 · 21/04/2023 23:17

ApplesandOrangesandPears · 21/04/2023 22:46

I don't deal well with those things either to be honest, I have noise cancelling earbuds that I wear a lot but I can't wear those in work. It's the fact that there will be multiple phones going off all at once from all directions. I don't even cope well in places like shopping centres and supermarkets, so things don't necessarily have to be overly loud for me to struggle.

Show quote history

I really feel for you. My son has sensory issues with noise specifically related to alarms and it causes him a huge amount of anxiety. It's hard for people to understand as there is no actual threat - he doesn't understand it himself as cognitively he knows he's safe, and there is no fire etc, but the anxiety is real. We're outside UK so he won't be affected but I hope you're able to manage ok with the alert.

Swanfavourite · 21/04/2023 23:17

The advice on second phones is to always turn them off when not in use. It stops speculative sales and spam calls, or even an accidental dial from a trusted contact, being heard.

Newuswr · 21/04/2023 23:22

friendlycat · 21/04/2023 23:17

I really don’t understand the drama that some are making of this issue. We are way way behind so many other countries that have this, and have done for years.

If you don’t want it on your phone (your choice) just look online how to turn it off.

I personally don’t have an issue with this, but I think the argument is lack of consent/control and lack of agency over their belongings? The public was equally annoyed when Apple gifted/forced everyone iPhone user to get a copy of U2s album for example. People don’t really want a government body or company to override how they use their phone.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 21/04/2023 23:23

I live in an area of the UK with really bad phone coverage, so no idea if I'll even get it or not.

Personally, I'd rather know if incoming doom or a nuke was on the way... not sure why everyone is making such a fuss. You can just turn the volume down on your phone...

IDontWantToBeAPie · 21/04/2023 23:23

Why would it? I don't really care tbh. So my phones going to wail at me, I know it's not for a real reason, and I know it's happening.

So it will happen and I'll say 'oh so that's the emergency alarm' and then I'll carry on with what I was doing.

blueshoes · 21/04/2023 23:29

I am quite looking forward to it now.

ShippingForecastMeditator · 21/04/2023 23:30

Part of my brain still lives in the 1980s and can appreciate how bizarre this ‘conversation’ is.

Not sure if anyone’s mentioned it but I’m
sure I read that phones that are turned off will sound the alert when they’re turned back on. Worth checking for those who have second phones (for whatever reason).

Coconut212 · 21/04/2023 23:34

Happened to me in Florida on holiday with a tornado warning, sh*t myself

PhilNW · 21/04/2023 23:35

It's not going to be much worse than a text notification or a phone call. Just set an alarm on your phone 5 mins before it happens then you are ready for the "main event"

PhilNW · 21/04/2023 23:37

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 21/04/2023 23:23

I live in an area of the UK with really bad phone coverage, so no idea if I'll even get it or not.

Personally, I'd rather know if incoming doom or a nuke was on the way... not sure why everyone is making such a fuss. You can just turn the volume down on your phone...

Text messages dont need as much signal strength as a call to get through.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 21/04/2023 23:40

@PhilNW There is NO coverage whatsoever in places. No texts or anything. Next village along you can't even get a radio signal! Yes, us hicks still exist.

I"ll be interested to see if I can pick up anything.

PupInAPram · 21/04/2023 23:41

Imagine hearing the air raid sirens during world war two and hustling everyone down to a freezing cold shelter at the end of the garden in the middle of the night, babies, pensioners and all!

tonyele · 21/04/2023 23:44

Its just an update on an old idea, the ROC (Royal Observer Corps) had a network of telephones that were placed in hospitals, railway stations etc that would bark instructions in the case of armageddon, and old radios made in the 60's and 70's had two little markings on every wavelength scale, if the baloon went up you tuned to one of those for orders.
There were air raid sirens everywhere until quite recently for armageddon, there was one up a pole in our road in the 90's

JudgeRudy · 21/04/2023 23:44

I don't think it right that the app can't be disabled. We should have a choice.

Aslanplustwo · 21/04/2023 23:45

What is wrong with you all? Many countries have these alarms, it's really no big deal, and a nuclear attack is the most unlikely scenario it will ever be used for. Just deal with it and move on - like everyone else does!

friendlycat · 21/04/2023 23:47

Newuswr · 21/04/2023 23:22

I personally don’t have an issue with this, but I think the argument is lack of consent/control and lack of agency over their belongings? The public was equally annoyed when Apple gifted/forced everyone iPhone user to get a copy of U2s album for example. People don’t really want a government body or company to override how they use their phone.

Show quote history

But the situation you are using as an example is nothing like this. Of course the U2 SM thing is completely different.

This is an emergency early warning system and bears no resemblance to your comparison. Are we really such a backward thinking country that can’t cope with this when other countries have had similar for years?

Aslanplustwo · 21/04/2023 23:47

PupInAPram · 21/04/2023 23:41

Imagine hearing the air raid sirens during world war two and hustling everyone down to a freezing cold shelter at the end of the garden in the middle of the night, babies, pensioners and all!

And if MN had been around then people would immediately post about how the siren was too loud and how they didn't want to know about a raid and would rather take their chances.