SafeZone

The SafeZone Alliance is a free opt in feature, which allows you to use your SafeZone app when off-campus at other participating universities. Once enabled, this feature will allow you to get a local emergency response from the security team on the campus you are visiting.

The Scottish Universities in the SafeZone Scottish alliance are:

• Glasgow University
• Heriot-Watt
• University of Stirling
• Napier

To enable this new feature you will need to go into the app on your device and change a setting for it to be enabled. For more information, visit the SafeZone website. 

The SafeZone app allows you to send location-based alerts to the Security team from your mobile device with just the tap of a button whenever you need support. You can use SafeZone for help with:

• Emergencies: If you're in a situation that's making you feel unsafe
• First aid: First aid assistance for yourself or someone else while on campus
• Check in: If you are studying or working late on campus, use the check in feature to let the security team know you're still in a building. This is particularly useful and recommended if working late or studying ‘out of hours’.
• Tip reporting: If you see something suspicious on campus, you can report this quickly and easily using the tip reporting tool. You can choose to share your contact details or to do this anonymously and even send a photo.
• Wellbeing Assistance: Details of support services for students and staff. Talk confidentially to a counsellor through our 24/7 Student Helpline or Employee Assistance Programme

In the event of an emergency, the SafeZone app enables you to share your location and details with the University Security Team, who will be able to respond quickly and provide you with support.
 

Automatic Check In - Recommended

After downloading the SafeZone app, you need to register using your University email address and mobile phone number. A notification should pop up asking you to share your location on the app ‘Always’, ‘While Using the App’, or ‘Never’. To use the app in the optimal way and to benefit from the Automatic Check In setting, select ‘Always’ when prompted by the app.

If a notification does not pop up after downloading the app and registering, you’ll need to set it up in your ‘Settings’ in your smartphone:

• Scroll down to the SafeZone app in your setting and select
• Click the location arrow
• Select ‘Always’ rather than ‘While Using the App’
• Then open SafeZone, click the ‘Settings’ option from the top left menu
• Select the ‘Allow Automatic Check In’ button to green

This should then enable auto check in when in a zoned area on campus.
 

Manual Check In

If you do not want to benefit from the automatic check in function you can manually check in when you arrive on campus.

After downloading the SafeZone app, register using your University email address and mobile phone number.

You need to manually check in each time you come on campus using the ‘Check In’ button on the App Home screen.

You are automatically checked out when you leave campus.

We urge you to take every opportunity to register your presence when you can.

The University’s Communications team and Security team have the ability to send out messages to registered SafeZone users. This may be done to convey details of partial or full campus closures as a result of power outages or severe weather and other emergency situations.

2-way messaging allows SafeZone users to communicate with the Security Team via text message. This helps keep lines of communication open with users who need assistance.

After raising an alarm, the option will appear on-screen to call Security. To go into chat, press the blue and white speech bubble. Once in chat, you can start typing. Previous messages are displayed in addition to information on the online status of any participants.

2-way messaging is one of the accessibility features available on SafeZone, meaning people with hearing and speech impairments can contact responders in a quick and easy manner.

The SafeZone app is useful for those who regularly study or work alone, out of hours or in high-risk environments (lone workers). Lone workers can check in on the app, which lets the Security Team know where you are on campus – your location and ID will be displayed on a map, which the Security team will be able to see for the duration of your check in session.

SafeZone will automatically finish your session as you leave the region boundary, or you can check out again at any time by tapping the button again.

You can also switch on ‘automatic check in’ in the app’s settings, meaning your phone will automatically check you in whenever you move into a specially designated region on campus. Subject to you granting auto-check in permission, your phone will also check you out, based on your current location.

If you have witnessed a non-emergency incident on campus (i.e. suspicious activity, a disturbance, damage or vandalism), you can use SafeZone’s tip reporting tool to inform the Security team, who will then be able to investigate.

To do so, select the ‘Report a Tip’ option on the app’s home screen, choose the category that best fits the incident you’d like to report, enter a short description to give the Security team some more information and hit the ‘Send’ button.

The Security team may then get in touch with you if they need to know more. You can choose whether to send a photo, share your location or send the tip anonymously.

SafeZone cannot track your location. Your location is only visible if you raise an alert or use the check in function. Read more about SafeZone’s privacy policy on their website.

To ensure you get the maximum benefit from using the SafeZone app, please check the following:

Location settings – needs to be enabled.

On Android set location to 'High Accuracy' to work correctly.

Open your device settings – Tap Security & Location > Location.

Note: If you don’t see 'Security and Location', tap Location.

Tap Mode, then pick – High Accuracy.

On iPhone set to ON to work properly.

Open your device settings – Tap Privacy > Location Services. Make sure it is set to ON.

Connectivity – SafeZone needs to be connected to a strong Wi-Fi or cellular data signal to be able to send alerts and record check-ins. If no cellular data or Wi-Fi is available, the app will attempt to send alerts via SMS.

Software updates – SafeZone operates best when running with the latest version of the software. To see which version you are running, open the SafeZone menu found in the app on the left-hand side. You will be able to update the app in your phone’s app store if you do not have automatic updates turned on.

Registration – Once you have signed up for SafeZone you need to fully complete the registration process to be able to use the app. You will receive an email to your University of Aberdeen email account which will prompt you to complete registration.

Device compatibility – SafeZone currently runs on the following phones and tablets:

iPhones (iOS v12.2+) 

Android phones (Android v6.0+)

SafeZone currently runs on iPads or Android tablets. However, as most tablets do not have a standard SIM-based incoming voice call capability (i.e. no phone number), we recommend an iPhone or Android phone as your primary sign-up device.

If you don’t have a smartphone, but you do have a mobile phone and a tablet or iPad, use that device to sign up but put your separate mobile phone’s number in as your contact number.

Notification settings – these need to be enabled for SafeZone to operate properly and you will be prompted for this when installing the app.

Motion detection and fitness permission is required to cut down on battery use when it is active. This appears when you first check in.

If you think your SafeZone app is not performing as it should, please take a screenshot of your SafeZone diagnostics (found in the menu on the left-hand side) and send it to securitycontrol@abdn.ac.uk along with a description of the problem you are experiencing.

If you activate SafeZone while travelling abroad or elsewhere in the UK, you will automatically be connected to local emergency services. This will also send a notification to the Security team, who will contact you to find out if you need any assistance from the University.

Any feedback, suggestions and questions about using SafeZone should be directed to the Security team.

The team can be contacted on 01224 273327 or securitycontrol@abdn.ac.uk.