College Student and Family Use of Umergency Rises as COVID Surges

LOS ANGELES, December 15, 2020 (Newswire.com) - As the pandemic reaches record numbers of daily cases and fatalities in the United States, parents and their children are increasingly turning to Umergency, the health and safety app that enables college students and their families to navigate any emergency, wherever they are.

According to the app's recent download report, activity grew by 32 percent during the past 30 days, surpassing more than 50,000 user interactions. The report shows that Umergency's most often used features include the GPS-enabled Urgent Alert Beacon, which instantly messages trusted contacts, asking them for immediate assistance.

"The pandemic has made life more complicated and stressful for everyone," said Gail Schenbaum, Umergency's co-founder and CEO. "This really hits home when your kid gets into an emergency situation, whether they're close by or thousands of miles away. With college life upended by the pandemic, the app has proven to help, whether students are at school, at home, or traveling."

The company attributes its exponential growth to college families reaching for the app more often to handle personal health and safety issues, which are even more dangerous due to the risks posed by COVID-19. Numerous studies also point to the COVID-19 crisis causing significant psychological problems in college students. Many are experiencing heightened levels of anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, and sleep deprivation, leading to problematic drinking and drug use.

"The app provides students with immediate support for these mental states and behavioral issues," added Schenbaum. "There are direct-dial buttons to the national hotlines for suicide, poison, drug abuse, and mental health, as well as to vital health services on over 1200 campuses."  

Other features used regularly during the past 30 days include Umergency's medical consent form, local emergency and national hotline resources, insurance card storage, family and trusted contacts links, and the I Am Safe Beacon.

Umergency predicts even higher increases in downloads and user activity in the coming months, with the rise of pandemic-related health challenges.

About Umergency

Umergency's robust suite of health and safety tools enable college students, their families and trusted contacts, to efficiently navigate through emergencies. The app works everywhere - whether away at school or at home - providing peace of mind throughout the college experience. Umergency garnered a Media Excellence Award for Best in Health Tech, and was named as a Top Favorite App by LA Startups. The company is a proud alum of the prestigious UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator. Umergency is always free-of-charge for students, and a small subscription fee for parents and other non-students.  

Visit: www.umergencyapp.com

For press information, interviews and images, please contact Dahlia Greer for Umergency, [email protected]

Source: Umergency App