CTIA-The Wireless Association Provides Emergency Preparedness Tips

Topic is also the focus for September Edition of "Wonder of Wireless"

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With Hurricane Isaac expected to reach land soon, CTIA-The Wireless Association® and its member companies remind consumers that their wireless devices play an important role in various emergency situations. That's the focus of this month's "Wonder of Wireless" and a television public service announcement (PSA) that will be nationally distributed in September. The PSA focuses on the importance of text messaging during emergency situations, and the website (www.emergencywireless.org) also promotes a variety of wireless safety tips. Among the suggested safety measures for wireless consumers are:

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1. Text, don't call, to check on your family and friends and to let them know you're safe.
2. Keep your wireless devices charged. You may want to purchase extra batteries.
3. Store all of your emergency contact numbers in your mobile devices, including the numbers of your family members, friends, medical professionals and other emergency contacts.
4. Enable video, GPS, voice activation and messaging functions on your devices. Mapping destinations, locating emergency services, pinpointing locations and capturing photos are just some of the numerous ways your wireless phone can increase safety. Acquaint yourself with all of the great safety features on your wireless devices. 

In recognition of the damage that Isaac is expected to cause, CTIA reminds consumers they may donate $10/text to the American Red Cross relief efforts by texting REDCROSS to 90999, or by visiting redcross.org.

In addition, CTIA's September edition of the "Wonder of Wireless" (WOW) webcast and blog (http://blog.ctia.org) features additional information on emergency preparedness.

This month's WOW offers the following:  

• INSIDER INTERVIEW – CTIA's Assistant Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Brian Josef explains the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) program, a national emergency alert system that sends free, concise, text-like messages to users' WEA-capable mobile devices. Unlike text messages, WEA are location aware so the messages are sent only to those individuals within the targeted area. Wireless providers representing nearly 97 percent of subscribers are participating in distributing wireless emergency alerts.
• POLICY POINT – CTIA developed a 30-second TV PSA to remind consumers about the valuable services their wireless devices can provide them in the event of an emergency, such as hurricanes, tornadoes or floods. Wireless devices are important tools that help us communicate with our friends and family, but also emergency responders. Among the safety tips CTIA offers, it strongly recommends using text messages to communicate when networks are challenged by man-made or natural disasters and the resulting massive volume of wireless traffic.
• WIRELESS AT WORK – By using wireless networks and mobile devices, Accenture's "Life Safety Solution" identifies and pinpoints any employee caught in a dangerous situation at work. On behalf of one of its oil and gas refinery clients, Accenture, together with Cisco and Industrial Scientific, created this alert and notification system to help save lives in the event of an emergency situation. 
• WIRELESS LIFESAVER – This month's Wireless Lifesaver is 5-year-old Jordan Poulin, who was playing on the family's computer when her mother suddenly collapsed into a seizure. She grabbed her mother's cellphone to call 911 and provided first responders with important information so they could quickly locate the house and aid her mom. At the same time, Poulin kept her 5-month-old brother calm throughout the situation.

To watch the September WOW Webcast and TV PSA, please visit: http://www.ctia.org/consumer_info/wow/index.cfm/2012/09/.  

CTIA-The Wireless Association® (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry's voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry's leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE CTIA-The Wireless Association