Daily routine
60 seconds in the morning, 30 at night
A safety app you don't open isn't safety. This is the smallest possible daily habit. Anything more elaborate is optional.
Why a routine matters
SafeCircle gives you tools (status, plan, sources, calm). A routine turns tools into reflexes. When something happens, you don't want to be discovering buttons — you want fingers that already know where to go.
Morning check (60 seconds)
- Open the app. Installed PWA goes straight to the dashboard. Browser users: mysafecircles.app/dashboard.
- Glance at your circle. Anyone marked Help or Unknown in the last 24h? If yes, message them now.
- Glance at /sources. Open the Government and Civil Defence groups. Any new statement? If nothing new, move on.
- If your situation is unusual (travel, sick, somewhere remote), tap I'm safe with a one-line message so your circle has context.
Evening check (30 seconds)
- Did anyone in your circle post a status today?If not, and that's unusual, send a quick "you OK?" message off-app.
- Did you post one?If not, and you're someone your circle worries about (kids, elderly parents, partner abroad), post one now even just to say "safe, signing off".
What to actively watch for
The dashboard surfaces these automatically — you don't have to hunt. But knowing what they mean helps you act fast.
Help status from a member
Highest priority. Open their status detail, see the message, then call or message them. If you can't reach them, contact someone closer to them physically.
Stale status (older than ~24h)
Especially during an active event. A status that hasn't updated when one would be expected is a soft signal. Don't panic. Send a low-pressure check-in.
Push notification you missed
Tap it from your lock screen / notification centre. The app deep-links to the right page (dashboard for status, plan for plan-share).
Plan recently shared
If someone shared a plan with one of your circles, open it once and skim. You don't need to memorise it — but knowing the meeting point and code word is the whole point.
Weekly check (3 minutes, on a quiet day)
- Open every plan you authored. Are the contacts still right? Anyone moved? Number changed?
- Open every circle you own. Is everyone still in the right circle? Anyone you should add or remove?
- Test push: post any status (you can delete the next moment). Did the people on your other devices get a notification? If not, troubleshoot from FAQ → Notifications.
When something is wrong (exception flow)
- You need help. Tap I need help on the dashboard. Add a one-line message if you can (where you are, what kind of help). Your circle is notified immediately. If life-threatening, call 999 first — SafeCircle is not a substitute for emergency services.
- Someone in your circle posts Help. Open their status, read the message, contact them. Use the Emergency page if you need to reach UAE services on their behalf.
- You feel overwhelmed. Open Calm. Pick Box 4-4-4-4for acute stress. Four cycles, two minutes. The app reminds you of one concrete next action when you're done.
What you don't want to miss
- A Help status from a circle member — push notifications are tuned to wake you for these.
- An official advisory from NCEMA / Civil Defence / your emirate's government — the Sources page lists them all in one place.
- A pending circle invite someone sent you — paste the link to accept; it expires in 14 days.
- A plan shared with you by someone outside your usual circle — appears in Plan → Shared with me.