Emergency SOS
Send an encrypted distress alert with your GPS location to all members of your team. Designed for field use with a stress-optimised interface and large, clearly labelled buttons.
⚠️ Important Limitations — Read First
This is NOT a one-touch panic button. The SOS system requires several deliberate steps to prevent accidental activation. It is designed to complement your existing safety plan, not replace it.
- Requires internet. Emergency messages cannot be sent or received without an active network connection. This system does not work offline.
- Team only. Alerts are sent to your Xopoz team members only — not to emergency services (911, 112, etc.).
- Not instant delivery. Recipients receive the alert when their device next syncs position data with the server. More active teams receive alerts faster.
Always call official emergency services first in life-threatening situations. Use the Xopoz SOS to alert and coordinate with your team after contacting 911 or your local emergency number.
Sending an SOS Alert
- Open the navigation drawer (hamburger menu) and tap Send SOS.
- The emergency dialog opens with a stress-optimised interface: large fonts, red background, and clear button layout.
- Select which team(s) should receive the alert.
- Optionally type a short message. Your current GPS coordinates are automatically included.
- Tap Send SOS (right side) to transmit — or Cancel (left side) to abort.
The Cancel button is always on the extreme left and the Send SOS button always on the extreme right. This layout prevents accidental activation even under stress.
Receiving an SOS Alert
When a team member sends an SOS, all other team members receive:
- A full-screen emergency popup with an alarm ringtone
- A high-priority persistent notification that stays until acknowledged
- The sender's device name and team context
- A direct link to navigate to the sender's last known GPS position on the map
Note: Your device's background location service must be running for alerts to be processed while the app is in the background.
Security & Encryption
Emergency messages use the same end-to-end encryption as all team communications:
- Your GPS position is encrypted separately from the message text
- If you send to multiple teams, each team receives a differently-encrypted copy using its own key
- The server stores and routes encrypted data only — it cannot read your location or message
No Guarantee of Reliability
Xopoz is a location monitoring aid and does not claim to be 100% reliable. The application cannot be held responsible for incidents, accidents, or any adverse outcome arising from reliance on its features.
Emergency and field situations introduce numerous unpredictable factors entirely outside the application's control:
- User stress: under pressure, users may tap incorrect buttons, miss confirmation steps, or misread on-screen information.
- Insufficient battery: a device with low or depleted battery cannot send or receive alerts or maintain background services.
- Network connectivity: poor, intermittent, or absent mobile data or Wi-Fi will prevent SOS delivery and position sharing.
- GPS signal quality: dense buildings, underground locations, heavy foliage, or adverse weather can degrade or block GPS reception.
- Operating system behaviour: Android and modified Android distributions (such as EMUI, MIUI, ColorOS, OneUI) may exhibit unpredictable behaviour regarding real-time scheduling, background service management, and GPS access — potentially delaying or preventing alerts without warning.
- Device limitations: hardware defects or insufficient storage can impair operation.
- Human factors: forgetting to charge the device, not enabling location permissions, joining the wrong team, or misconfiguring settings.
- This list is not exhaustive. Other unforeseen factors may affect the application's operation.
Always treat Xopoz as a supplementary tool, not a primary safety system. Maintain independent emergency plans, backup communication methods, and always call official emergency services (112, 911, etc.) first.
Recommended Practice
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Life-threatening emergency | Call 911 / local emergency services first, then send Xopoz SOS |
| Team coordination after incident | Use Xopoz SOS to keep team informed of your position |
| Remote area with no signal | Xopoz SOS will not work — use satellite communicator or other backup |
| Testing the feature | Inform your team before testing so they do not respond unnecessarily |
Before relying on Xopoz SOS in the field, verify that:
- All team members have the app running with background location active
- Everyone has internet connectivity in the area you will be working
- You have tested sending and receiving an alert at least once in a non-emergency context