SafeZone App

SafeZone is a free mobile app made available by UKPD. The app is designed to help users access emergency assistance and enable better incident response. 

SafeZone is also another way to get UK Alerts, so you know what to do in an emergency. Faculty and staff must now download the SafeZone app in order to opt in to UK Alerts via phone call and text. Students who have provided a phone number in myUK will be automatically enrolled in UK Alert phone calls and texts. All students, faculty and staff will continue to receive UK Alerts via email.

SafeZone is a new campus safety app that gives you peace of mind and quick access to help when you need it.  

With just one tap:  

• Request immediate emergency assistance at your location 
• Submit anonymous tips 
• Get a late-night virtual police escort 

SafeZone is also another way to receive UK Alerts, so you know what to do in an emergency. 

We encourage all community members to dial 911 in an emergency if you are able. If, however, a user is unable to make a direct call due to situational or technical issues, or if they must be discreet, then SafeZone reporting is a great option. 

Additionally, when the Emergency button is used, location services are enabled to help emergency personnel find your location.

The UK Alert system is integrating with the SafeZone app. Faculty and staff will continue to automatically receive UK Alerts via email. However, to continue receiving UK Alerts via phone call and text, faculty and staff must download and register their phone numbers with SafeZone.

No. Students who have provided their phone number in myUK will automatically receive UK Alert text messages and phone calls, in addition to email alerts.

When you press "Emergency," an alert is sent to UKPD. A communications officer will call the user while simultaneously sending officers to your location. 

During this time, a communications officer can also chat back and forth with the user via two-way text. 

When you press "Non-emergency," the SafeZone app prompts your phone to call the UKPD non-emergency line (859-257-8573).

When you press "Medical," an alert is sent to UKPD. A communications officer will call the user, while simultaneously sending officers and EMS to your location.

During this time, a communications officer can also chat back and forth with the user via two-way text. 

The "Well-being" button takes the user to a menu with resources for mental well being such as the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, TRACS, the Get Help form and more.

The Check-In function allows users to share their location with UKPD. Once enabled, a communications officer will monitor your location, providing a virtual escort until the user turns this off. No request for emergency help will be sent unless the user taps the emergency button in the app.

The Check-In Timer allows users to share their location with UKPD for a set amount of time. If the user does not select "Cancel" within that time, a communications officer will call the user. If the user cannot be reached, emergency help will be sent to their location. 

A user can schedule a check in up to two hours in advance and can attach a note for UK Police to read while monitoring your location.

SafeZone integrates with our UK Alerts system. As such, you may opt in to receiving push notifications as another way to receive UK Alerts. 

To opt out of UK Alerts via text and phone call, students, faculty and staff must download the SafeZone app and delete their account data. You can do this by visiting the settings menu located in the upper left hand corner of the app.

No. Your location is only sent to UKPD when you choose to share that information through certain functions. When you submit a tip (anonymous or not) or use one of the emergency features or check-in features, your location will be shared with a UKPD officer and members of an emergency response team, if necessary. 

When you submit a tip, your current location is only submitted once and is attached to that tip.

Enabling your location services, notification services, Wi-Fi and data services is recommended in order to fully use SafeZone. 

Once you download the app, a series of prompts will give you the opportunity to enable most of these. These services will allow UKPD officers to accurately locate you during a check-in or an emergency.

Ensuring that your precise location is shared will help UKPD find you in an emergency. Android users can enable this through the prompts that appear after downloading and registering with the app. iPhone users can enable this by visiting SafeZone in the Settings app.

Importantly, SafeZone will not share your location with UKPD until you call for help, check in or submit a tip.

The Motion & Fitness Activity permission allows the app to detect when you are moving and when you are stationary. This information will enhance emergency response, if needed.

By always allowing access to location, you can check-in and then continue to use your phone as normal while SafeZone operates in the background. If “only while using” is selected your location will stop being shared if you exit the app. This could prevent effective emergency response in the event that you close out of the app.

NOTE: Always allowing access does not mean your location is always shared with responders. Your location is only shared when you actively raise an alert or check in.

If you accidentally press any SafeZone call button, such as emergency, medical or non-emergency, a countdown timer will start. While it counts down, you can press the button once again to cancel the call. If the call has been sent, you can still cancel your request, but you will be contacted by communication officers to ensure your safety. Please answer their call or message to confirm you are safe.

SafeZone will operate at any location. If you request emergency assistance/tap the emergency button off campus, the app will call the local police department.

When you use the Check-In feature, your location and ID information are shared with UKPD and members of an emergency response team, if necessary. If you need help, you will still need to press the emergency or medical assistance button.

No, you do not need to be checked in first. If you need help, open the app and tap the emergency button or the medical button. Unless you wish to share your location with UKPD, you may never need to use the Check-In feature.

If you have previously used SafeZone, simply download and install the app to your new device and sign in once again using your LinkBlue ID.

It is critical to keep your contact details up to date, so that in the event of an emergency, your response team can easily identify and contact you. You can update your phone number by downloading the SafeZone app, logging in and visiting the menu icon in the top left of your screen.

If you'd like to only receive UK Alert via text, you can choose to block the cell phone number that UK Alert is sent from. This will not prevent you from receiving text alerts.