In case of emergency, the mobile phone should alert

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If it rains heavily or a warehouse catches fire with toxic smoke, you have to act quickly. A timely warning can save lives. In the event of natural disasters, people in Switzerland should therefore be warned via their mobile phone in the future.

The Committee on Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy of the Council of States (Urek-S) unanimously approved the motion of Aargau FDP national councilor Maja Riniker (44) on Wednesday.

A specific app is not necessary

Using so-called “cell broadcast” technology, alerts can be sent to any mobile phone in the affected area. Mobile phones can also be reached with a push SMS without a specific app installed.

The warning is sent to all devices registered with radio cells in the danger zone. This even works with mobile phones that do not have internet. According to the Federal Bureau of Civil Protection (Babs), most cell phones are compatible with the system.

In this way, people who are only temporarily in the country, such as tourists, can also be reached. Today, alarms are sent through a network of about 5,000 stationary and 2,200 mobile sirens, the radio and the app “Alertswiss”. The Council of States considers it important that Cell Broadcast is aligned with the existing systems.

Already in use in several countries

At the end of 2021, the National Council had already accepted Riniker’s motion, signed by 57 other council members. The Federal Council also supports the initiative. It now goes to the Council of States, where the chances are also good.

In Japan, mobile broadcasts warn of earthquakes and in the US of hurricanes. After the flood disaster in the summer of 2021, Germany also decided to introduce the technology.

In Switzerland, warnings via cell broadcast were already examined in 2014. At that point, however, the federal government decided not to use the technology because it was still subject to “some restrictions” at the time. (SDA/dba)

Source:Blick