A free app that could save a life!

I don't remember how I originally discovered it, but CodeRED Mobile Alert by ECN is an app that everyone--and I mean everyone--should have on their smart phone.

The app ties into a national emergency notification system to keep you informed in the event of an emergency in your area. If an alert is issued for your location, a klaxon-type horn sounds and the app automatically pops up with a brief notice of the type of alert. When you select it, a recorded message from the issuing agency is played over your speakerphone, announcing the details and any instructions.

When you first download the app, you are given a trial of the severe weather alerts portion in addition to the free community alerts. After expiration of the trial, continued weather alerts are a premium service at $4.99 per year. But seriously, what is $5 yearly when it could let you know you are in the direct path of an oncoming tornado?

This morning the klaxon sounded to let me know police had in custody a two-to-three-year-old light-skinned black boy who had been found walking in the street in only his diaper. Just imagine, if the boy was yours and you had this iPhone app installed, you could say to yourself at 5:30 in the morning, "A light-skinned African American toddler boy in only a diaper? Wait a minute... I have one of those! Maybe I should go check to see if he's still in his crib where he belongs..."

If you DON'T have this app, you're likely to wake up later than 5:30am and say to yourself in a panic, "Oh my god! Where is my light-skinned African American child? Did he go outside? But he is only two-to-three years old, and he was only wearing a diaper!

Anyway, download the app. I've gotten severe weather alerts, missing elderly people alerts, amber alerts, attempted kidnapping alerts and similar notifications.

In all seriousness, this app could honestly help you save someone's life. Please download it. It's free in your app store.