Over the past few weeks, Israelis have been shocked at the kidnappings and murders of three Jewish and one Arab youth, and the resumption of shelling from Gaza. But reactions aren’t limited to fear, sadness and anger. In typical Israeli fashion, people are thinking out of the box to help prevent future tragedies.

The nonprofit emergency medical response service United Hatzalah launched a public “SOS” emergency alert app that can dispatch an immediate distress call — and the caller’s precise location — to the Israeli police and its own dispatchers. As of today, the weeks-old SOS app for Android and iPhone already has been downloaded for free by 100,000 users, according to Dov Maisel, director of international relations at Jerusalem-based United Hatzalah.

Another free smartphone app, Tzeva Adom (Red Alert Israel), was developed for iOS by Kobi Snir during heavy shelling from Gaza about two and a half years ago to make sure users in Gaza-area communities wouldn’t miss an air-raid siren. With Snir’s permission, Ari Sprung developed an Android version in his Jerusalem basement.

In the past tense week, Sprung tells ISRAEL21c, the updated app – now including a chat feature so people can share their emotions – is being downloaded at a fast clip. There have been over 100,000 installs of the Android version, and the iOS version is now available in English.

“We’re learning that people are downloading it not only to make sure they hear the alert but also to keep tabs on relatives anywhere in the country,” says Sprung. He and Snir are seeking donations of servers and/or cash to expand the app worldwide in several languages.  They just announced that users of the popular Israeli social app Yo will get a “yo” every time a missile is launched into Israel if they are subscribed to Red Alert Israel. (via Israel21c)

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