Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 06-10-2019

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Vodacom has launched the 112 Emergency Service App which enables persons with communication barriers (Deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired, hearing impaired, deafblind) persons to contact emergency services when they need help.

Designed especially for persons who experience communication barriers, the free Emergency Service App enables deaf users to contact the ER24 emergency contact centre 24 hours, 365 days a year.

Users can request emergency services such as fire, police, sea rescue, traffic and ambulance services which could assist to save their own lives, the lives of their loved ones and other people in need.

Vodacom’s Karen Smit says while they try include all members of society through our different product suites, they realized there was a gap in the market.

“Most emergency services are predominantly accessible via voice calls. We recognised that this was a barrier for the deaf and hearing impaired market segments, hence the birth of this app”.

In order to get the service, deaf users need only download the Vodacom 112 Emergency Service App from the Google Playstore and Apple iStore and register their mobile number.

The introduction of this Emergency App service comes at the back of an SMS Emergency Service that Vodacom launched a year ago. The app provides another channel for deaf and hearing impaired persons to contact emergency services from their mobile devices.