Individuals
Choosing your guardian angels and briefing them
In Five Angels, the alert goes to people you have chosen. That choice matters as much as the app itself.
How it works
Your circle can include up to 15 people, 5 of whom are active guardian angels at any one time: they are the ones who receive your alerts. You can pause a guardian angel, for example while they are on holiday, and activate another. Each guardian angel installs the app for free.
Who to choose
- People you can reach: someone who keeps their phone nearby and answers in the evening if you travel late.
- People who live nearby, at least one or two: a guardian angel 500 km away can call for help, but cannot come.
- Different schedules: a colleague for the daytime, a flatmate or neighbour for the evening, a relative who gets up early.
- People who can act without panicking: call you, go to you, call the emergency services.
Five active guardian angels is the best guarantee that at least one of them responds.
Inviting them
From the app, you invite a contact from your address book: they receive a text message in your name with the link to install Five Angels. Once registered, they accept the invitation and appear in your circle.
Explaining what to do
The most important part happens before any alert: a five-minute conversation. Agree together on:
- what an alert means: it is not a test, they must react;
- who does what: in the app, each guardian angel says whether they are on their way or unable to help, so nobody waits for the others;
- the first step: call you, then, with no answer or if the situation requires it, call 17 or 112 in France and give the location shown on the map;
- your usual places: home, work, regular journeys, so they can read the map.
Show them the app: the alert screen, the map, the buttons. A guardian angel who has already seen it saves precious seconds.
Keeping your circle up to date
- Pause a guardian angel who is unavailable (travelling, in hospital) and activate another.
- Rename your contacts the way you call them: the name you choose is visible only to you.
- Revoke someone you no longer want to receive your alerts.
For habits on the way home, see Walking home alone at night: practical habits.