ASTRID Provides Technical Coordination on '112 BE' App

On June 23, the new app '112 BE' was proposed by the Minister of Security and Home Affairs Jan Jambon and Minister of  Health Maggie De Block at the Leuven Emergency Center. Through this app, citizens in need can call for fire, ambulance and/or police assistance in Belgium. Minister Jambon said during the launch that the app will literally save lives.

The new 112 BE app provides some essential benefits. Citizens no longer need to remember the emergency numbers. In panic situations, people tend to forget the correct emergency number. Now they will get connected to the right emergency service such as fire, ambulance and police with the use of icons.

Via the app location feature, emergency services are now able to easily find the people that are in need. When you are at a remote location, such as a forest or in the midst of a complex or on the motorway, it's often difficult to explain exactly where you are. In order to get this solved, the new app recognises the exact GPS coordinates of the person and sends the coordinates to the emergency control room.

People who are deaf or hearing impaired or have a speech disorder are able to check this when registering the app. For them, the app will open a chat function as soon as the call is received at the emergency control room. The staff at the emergency room can also activate the 'chat mode' in exceptional situations, but only when it is not possible to speak, for example when there is too much ambient noise. If there is no internet connection, the app will switch to SMS.

In collaboration with all relevant suppliers, ASTRID provided the technical coordination during the development of the app.