Coronavirus info button and notifications added to the LifeSaver app

As of today, two novel features are introduced to the Life Saver (Életmentő) application of the Vodafone Foundation and the National Ambulance Service, which help the public in the current situation triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

One such feature is the Coronavirus Information button, which takes users directly to the Hungarian Government’s official coronavirus information site, and the other significant piece of innovation, which is extremely useful in the current situation is that the application can now generate push notifications to inform users about important, fresh developments. These innovations were made possible with the support and participation of the Tigra Informatics Group.

In the current situation triggered by the coronavirus, two important novel features have been added to the LifeSaver application, which has been downloaded by more than 450 000 people since its launch 2 months ago.

One of novel features is the Coronavirus Information button, which takes users directly to the Hungarian Government’s official coronavirus information site (https://koronavirus.gov.hu/), now making this important information site directly accessible from the LifeSaver application.

The other useful innovation is that the application can now send the most up-to-date, essential information to those who have downloaded the LifeSaver app in so-called push messages or notifications. To be able to use this function, it is important that users allow the application to send notifications when downloading the Life Saver application. Those who had downloaded the app earlier must enable two options for the Life Saver app in the Settings menu of their handsets: the automatic downloading of updates and notifications.

“At Vodafone Hungary, we are working to support Hungary in the extremely difficult situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, in every way we can. In such times, being well-informed is of paramount importance, so we wanted to help with this both the authorities and the public. Thus, we encourage people to download the LifeSaver app both for themselves and their loved ones, if they haven’t already done so.” – said Dr. Gergő J. Budai, Director of External Affairs at Vodafone Hungary.

Push messages are messages that pop up on the screens of smartphones and come from other applications, in this case from the LifeSaver app. Their advantage is that the user receives these important messages even when the application is not open on their phone or they are not using their handset. The National Ambulance Service recommends that everyone should authorise these notifications, as this allows the app to send important messages and warnings to users.

“The primary purpose of the LifeSaver app is to make it easier to call for help, allowing ambulance crews to get abundant information fast. The upgrade adds new features to the app that can also indirectly support the saving of lives.” – emphasised Dr. Gábor Csató, Director General of the National Ambulance Service.

The LifeSaver application was launched in January 2020 in co-operation between the Vodafone Hungary Foundation and the National Ambulance Service. The primary purpose of the application is to allow people to call for help faster and more efficiently. In the application, the user can upload health information in advance, which is instantly displayed on the monitor of control room staff when the emergency call is made. And its super-accurate positioning system helps emergency crews find the person in trouble fast, even if they cannot provide an exact address.

In the two months since its launch, the app has been downloaded by more than 450 000 people and initiated close to 2 500 emergency calls, of which 680 were cases requiring actual medical care.

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