Are you aware of the imminent emergency alarm test?

On Sunday 23^rd April 2023, the government will be testing an emergency alarm on all mobile devices at 3pm. The alert will sound for 10 seconds on almost every smartphone in the UK, if your phone is switched off, you won’t receive the alert. However, if you phone is on silent, the alarm will still sound and you will need to acknowledge the alert before you can continue using your device.

The full message will read: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action."

This system is planned to be used to warn of extreme weather events such as flash floods or wildfires, terror incidents or civil defence emergencies. These alerts will only come from the government or emergency services and will include details of the area impacted, along with instructions about how to respond.

If you are out driving when the alarm is sounded, please do not be alarmed, remind yourself of this communication and continue your focus on the road. Please do not look or touch your phone until you have safely parked your vehicle and turned off your engine.

You are able to opt out of receiving emergency alerts on your device. Check for ‘Emergency Alerts’ under the notifications section of your settings and then turn it off.