After pressing the SOS emergency button, the application asks whether medical assistance is needed. The user can choose between two options:

YES – emergency medical service (155)
NO – emergency line 112 (fire brigade / integrated rescue services)

If medical assistance is required (line 155), the application sends a data message with the exact location and other important information from the user profile directly to the medical emergency dispatch center.

When connecting to line 112, the application establishes a voice call. The caller’s location is transmitted via the AML (Advanced Mobile Location) system. An exception applies to users with an Android operating system who have background SMS enabled; in this case, the application also sends an emergency SMS containing the location and additional caller information when calling line 112.

The application then offers to place a call to the selected emergency number, which must be confirmed by the user. Only after the phone call to line 155 or 112 is established can an emergency response team be dispatched.

If the user is located in mountainous terrain, the Záchranka application automatically recognizes this based on the GPS signal and also sends an emergency message to the Mountain Rescue Service in the relevant area. The same principle applies to water areas, where the Water Rescue Service of the Czech Red Cross operates.

In the case of line 155, pressing the SOS button sends an emergency message with your exact location and other information entered in your user profile. You then need to confirm the call to the emergency number 155. The SOS button therefore serves as a fast way to contact the medical emergency service, with the added benefit of location sharing and the transmission of additional information. Always wait until you are connected to an operator on line 155.

In the case of line 112, pressing the SOS button initiates a voice call. The caller’s location is transmitted via the AML (Advanced Mobile Location) system. An exception applies to users with an Android operating system who have background SMS enabled; in this case, the application also sends an emergency SMS containing the location and additional caller information when calling line 112. Always wait until you are connected to an operator on line 112.

The Záchranka app only works on touchscreen phones and Apple Watch. It cannot be used on tablets, laptops, or desktop computers because calling for help involves not only pressing the emergency button but also automatically dialing the emergency dispatch center at 155/112. There are long-term plans to connect the Záchranka app with Android Wear. The minimum system requirements for the latest version of the app are iOS 16 and Android 8.

The Záchranka app also works on the Aligator A930 button phone, where it automatically sends your location and important personal information when calling the emergency medical services or mountain rescue services (155 and 1210). The emergency operator receives this information instantly during the call, eliminating the need for complicated explanations. The location is determined using both mobile network data and accurate GPS signals, enabling fast and precise identification of the emergency site.

You need to verify as a user to fully use the app. All you need to do is provide your name and mobile phone number, as these two items are essential for user verification. After installing the app, you will be asked to enter your name and mobile phone number. You will then receive an SMS with an activation code; simply enter the code – you are now verified.

We also recommend completing your user profile in the ‘My Profile’ section. Here you can add any important health details such as temporary or existing health conditions, allergies, next-of-kin contacts, and any other useful information to be sent to EMS whenever you send an emergency message while making an emergency call.

We recommend this option only in extreme cases. If you do not have the phone number verified, the application will generate an SMS message with an encrypted emergency message and you need to confirm its sending.  

In the upper left corner of the Záchranka application, you will find the “Enable test mode” icon. When you tap it, a pop-up window will appear informing you that the application is in test mode; confirm by tapping “OK.” The emergency button will switch to an orange “TEST” button, and the top bar will also turn orange to indicate test mode.

Tap the orange emergency button and you will see the question “Is medical assistance needed?” along with two options: YES (155 – Medical Rescue Service) and NO (112 – Fire Brigade), just as in a real emergency call.

Whether you select line 155 or 112, a countdown will start. In live mode, this countdown would be followed by the offer to place a call, confirmation of the call, and a phone connection to the selected emergency line. Afterward, an information screen will appear explaining the real emergency calling process and confirming that the application is set up correctly.

The Záchranka application includes an interactive first aid guide as well as a training module explaining how to treat the most common injuries.

Using the “Locator” feature, you can find the following information: your exact location, the nearest emergency department, mountain rescue station, pharmacy, emergency dental service, regional emergency medical service, or an automated external defibrillator (AED). The Locator also includes a Psychosocial Support module, which is currently available in Prague and the South Moravian Region. This module helps users find assistance in mental health–related crisis situations.

In the “Information” section, you can find comprehensive information about the Záchranka application, including instructional videos and first aid guidelines. One of the most important features in this section is Warning Alerts, which function as a so-called reverse emergency system. If you select your areas of interest, you will receive notifications whenever an incident occurs in the selected area that could pose a risk to your life or health. These alerts are issued by the crisis management departments of the respective city or region.

You can explore all features here.

The “I can’t speak” button is located on the main screen of the Záchranka application below the SOS button. It is intended for situations in which an injury or circumstances prevent you from communicating with operators on line 155 or 112 by voice.

After pressing the button, the application will ask whether medical assistance is needed. You can choose YES (155 – Medical Rescue Service) or NO (112 – Fire Brigade).

After selecting the appropriate emergency line, the application will display a list of situations from which you should choose the one that best matches the current circumstances.

• For line 155, the application offers nine predefined medical situations (e.g. unconsciousness, injury, breathing difficulties, etc.).

• For line 112, the application offers five predefined emergency situations (e.g. traffic accident, fire, hazardous material release).

After selecting the specific situation, an emergency SMS containing your name, phone number, location, and type of incident is sent. Communication then continues via an SMS chat directly with the emergency operations center of line 155 or 112.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, please see the section “How can I use the Záchranka application if I am deaf?” for more information.

No, an internet connection is not necessary for the system to still work. If your mobile phone is not connected to the internet and you hold the Emergency Button for 3 seconds, the app will send your exact location via SMS and then dial 155/112 in the usual way.

If you have no mobile signal, it is not possible to place a call to emergency lines 155 or 112. In such cases, the emergency button will not be able to call the medical rescue service or the fire brigade, nor send your location.

If your own network is unavailable but another mobile network is within range, your phone will automatically use the available network of another operator when calling an emergency number.

In the case of a weak signal, where it is not possible to reliably transmit your location via an internet connection, an emergency SMS containing your location may be sent. SMS messages require less signal strength than a voice call, so they may be delivered even in situations where a call cannot be completed. As a result, it is possible that you cannot reach 155/112 by phone, but an emergency SMS with your location is successfully sent.

If you find yourself in an emergency and have no signal, try changing your location—for example, move to higher ground or an open area. Alternatively, ask someone nearby to attempt to make the connection. Even a weak signal may be sufficient to establish contact with an emergency line or to transmit essential information.

Automatic GPS activation (without prior user intervention) is unfortunately not possible as this is not approved by Google and Apple. However, your app will always notify you when you turn on GPS.

Unfortunately, this is not possible due to current phone manufacturer requirements. But it is our hope that the Záchranka app will come as standard with new every phone in the future and then the app’s icon will be accessible from the lock screen.

The Záchranka application is fully functional in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Bavaria (Germany), and Slovakia. This means that an emergency message is sent directly to the dispatch center and the person in need is then also connected by phone with operators of the medical emergency service.

The application also works in the Slovak mountains, where pressing the emergency button sends an emergency message to the Slovak Mountain Rescue Service.

In Finland, the Záchranka application places a call to the emergency number 112 and sends the caller’s precise GPS location.

In other countries, pressing the emergency button allows you to call the local emergency number; however, no emergency message containing GPS location or other personal data is transmitted.

Sometimes GPS can’t determine where you are due to lower signal accuracy when inside buildings, as the GPS signal works best outdoors and in open spaces. That's why we created the option in ‘My Profile’ to add your home address, including your apartment and floor number, as EMS crews have said that this greatly speeds up trying to locate callers in large apartment complexes. If you save your full address details in your user profile and tell the 155 emergency operator that you’re at home, the EMS crew will be able to reach you much faster.

Email us at info@medicalit.eu and let us know what the problem is – we will be happy to help you.

Upon activating the red emergency button, the Záchranka app sends your location and other relevant information no matter where you are, whether in the Czech Republic or abroad. If you are in the Czech Republic or in a border area, i.e., within 10 km inside a neighbouring country, your location is always transferred to the nearest Emergency Service dispatch centre in the Czech Republic. If you are in Austria or Bavaria, where the Záchranka app is fully operational, your location and other details are instead transferred to their respective Emergency Service dispatch centre.

Sometimes, there may be a problem when making emergency calls in border areas. The 155 Czech emergency number is only contactable when your phone is connected to a Czech mobile network. If your phone connects to a foreign mobile network, it will not be able to connect to the Czech 155 number. You may have already noticed in border areas that although you are still in the Czech Republic, your phone may sometimes automatically detect and connect to a stronger mobile signal from a foreign network. The app detects country boundaries based on GPS, and not on mobile network signals. Therefore, if you are in the Czech Republic but connected to a foreign mobile network and your emergency call to 155 fails to connect, don’t worry; your emergency message (containing your registered mobile number) will still be sent and received as normal, and the Emergency Medical Services will call you back on the mobile number in the emergency message.

The app is only downloadable in the Czech Republic and Austria, and Austrians have their own equivalent of the app. The Czech app works in Austria and their app version similarly works in the Czech Republic.

Downloading the app via Google Play in the Czech Republic is only possible if you have a Czech Google Play account with Czech payment details. 

If the Záchrankaapp were downloadable using a country account different to the above (i.e. if it were downloadable from anywhere else in the world), it would not only unnecessarily burden the system, but it would also make data operations (such as registration and confirmation SMSes to foreign mobile networks) far more expensive. Users downloading from other countries would not be able to use the app and we would have to start charging to cover these unnecessary increased costs, as this would not be funded by our sponsors.

If you are deaf or have a speech impairment, please indicate this in your medical information in the “My Profile” section.

In an emergency, after pressing the SOS button, the app will ask whether medical assistance is needed. You can choose YES (155, Emergency Medical Service) or NO (112, Fire Brigade).
After selecting the appropriate emergency line, the app will present a table of situations, from which you should choose the one that most closely matches the reality.

• For line 155, the app offers nine typical situations (e.g., unconsciousness, injury, difficulty breathing, etc.).

• For line 112, the app offers five typical situations (e.g., traffic accident, fire, chemical spill).

Once a specific situation is selected, an emergency SMS is sent containing your name, phone number, location, and type of incident. Communication then continues via SMS chat directly with the relevant 155 or 112 control centre.

Emergency medical service dispatch centres also have access to video transmission. For users who are deaf or unable to speak, an SMS with a link is sent; upon opening the link, the caller and rescuers are connected via video.

Warning Alerts function as a so-called reverse emergency line. This means that users of the Záchranka app are alerted in advance to a problem that could cause injury or endanger their health.

This tool is intended to assist the crisis management teams of individual regions and cities. When an event occurs in their area that could threaten the lives or health of residents, the crisis department sends a notification through the app, which appears as an alert for everyone subscribed to information from the respective municipality or administrative unit (ORP). Alerts of this type can only be sent in regions that are partners of the Záchranka app. As of December 2026, these regions are South Moravian, Pardubice, Plzeň, Karlovy Vary, Prague, Olomouc, Central Bohemian, Hradec Králové, and Vysočina.

Throughout the Czech Republic, the Záchranka app also distributes critical updates from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ). The Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic also has access to these alerts.

How to set up alerts: After clicking the INFORMATION icon (an exclamation mark in a triangle at the bottom right), you will see the "Warning Alerts" icon at the very top. By opening it, you can easily select the areas you want to monitor. If you are heading to the mountains, you can also enable mountain rescue alerts here. A detailed guide with images can be found here.

When a warning alert is sent, it will appear on your phone screen as a notification. Make sure that notifications from the Záchranka app are enabled on your device.