We have collected a set of the most commonly asked questions and answers on contact cards.
What is a SaferMe wearable contact Card?
A SaferMe wearable card is a hardware contact tracing solution with bluetooth functionality. Each card has a unique QR code and ID. When one wearable card comes into contact with another, each one detects the other and a contact is recorded. This data is encrypted on the card and stored securely.
How do I get a SaferMe contact card?
SaferMe distributes the cards to an organization. Each card is assigned to a specific individual and distributed out by an appropriate representative such as an administrator.
Wearing Cards
How do I wear the card?
Each card is attached to a lanyard (preferably with a non metal clip) . The lanyard is worn around the neck so that card remains upright at chest height. If a lanyard is a workplace hazard, the card can be attached to a non metal clip and fixed to a shirt pocket, arm band or belt. The card ideally should not be blocked or covered with anything e.g. clothing etc.
Why should my lanyard not have a metal clip?
Ensure the lanyard doesn’t have a metal clip. Metal could interfere with Bluetooth signal and result in the card malfunctioning. If your existing lanyard has a metal clip, we recommend using a plastic clip. Alternatively, request a safety clip that can be attached to a shirt or belt and use it instead of the lanyard.
What happens if I don’t wear the card upright?
If the card is laid down flat it will go to sleep and contact tracing will not occur during this time. A card that is completely still and laying down flat will not detect other cards. Once a card is moved again it will reactivate and start detecting other cards.
Can I wear the card in my pocket?
No, we strongly advise against this as we cannot be confident in the cards ability to function properly this way.
Can I wear the card on a clip at chest height?
Yes the card should be worn on a non metal clip at chest height. However the card must be outward facing and not blocked or covered by clothing.
Can the card be worn under clothing or in pockets?
Best practice is to wear the card on the outside of a person's clothing, ideally in the torso area or on the arm. This is because clothing or material in pockets may interfere with the card.
Synching Cards
How do I sync my wearable card?
Download the SaferMe Sync mobile app. Open and allow for camera and bluetooth. Hold down the button on the card until a red appears, at that point press ‘connect’ on the mobile app. Wait for the data to sync. For more details see our complete sync guide here.
*The SaferMe Sync app does not require a log in. The app can be installed, used and deleted straight after.
What is required for the data to sync i.e. bluetooth, internet connection etc?
Bluetooth to pair the card with the pairing device. Internet connection or data available to use the SaferMe Sync app.
Can data from multiple cards be synched through one device at the same time?
Only one card can be synced to a device at the same time. However, the same device can be used to sync multiple cards (one after the other).
After synching, when can I see the card data?
We advise on waiting 15 minutes before checking the contact log tables for the newly synced data. This is so that the data has time to reach our server and update the table.
What devices support the SaferMe Sync app?
SaferMe Sync app is supported on mobile/ ipad / tablet devices - Android: 6.0 and up
iOS: 10.0 and up.
Lost Cards
What do I do if I lose my card?
Contact your administrator who can help you to locate it. If required a new card can be assigned to you.
Privacy
Read our dedicated Privacy FAQ article Privacy FAQ
Does SaferMe store your location?
No. Data about your movements is not stored and no-one in your business or at SaferMe sees where you are. It’s not possible with SaferMe. What the software does is grab device locations at points in time. If there is a proximity match with another device or card then we log a “probable contact”. Your contact list is only used if you become unwell with Covid-19, and only for the purposes of tracing.
How secure are the cards?
Data is stored in a secure, cloud-based encrypted database. No personal data is stored on the card itself. Any contact data stored on the card is automatically deleted after 21 days. To further increase privacy, only authorised users at the facility can access personal data on the database.
What system is used to store the data and where is it stored?
The system is AWS and the data is securely stored in USA.
Are/should the cards be disposed of securely?
Cards should be ‘cleared’ then recycled via e-waste recyclers, as all data is cryptographically secure, secure disposal is not required but can be done.
Can we upload ID numbers into SaferMe for our workers instead of their names?
Yes, the Guest Tab allows for ID numbers to be used instead of people's names. As long as the administrator can link the ID back to a person with their own internal records when doing a contact trace.
Card Care
Can I leave my card at work?
We advise wearing the card as much as possible and having the card with you at all times. This includes taking the card home with you from work. In the event of a suspected positive case having the card with you allows for syncing at any time.
Can anything harm the cards? Eg placing next to credit cards, airport scanner etc
Any action that does not harm smartphones typically will not harm the cards. Additionally, the cards are IP66 rated which means that they are water and dust resistant.
Is the card waterproof/dust-proof etc?
The cards are waterproof to IP67 rating - 1.5 metres of water. Cards are hermetically sealed which makes them waterproof, dust-proof, and generally more resistant.
(basically that standard means waterproof up to 30 mins in 15cm-1m of water)
Any issues with the card would be picked up by a simple button press. If the card flashes green, it's operating fine.
Batteries
How long do the batteries on the cards last for?
The card battery have a 6 month life span.
How do I tell if my card battery is low?
If a card battery is low a flashing red light will start to appear on the card. The light generally starts flashing 5 weeks before the battery drains. Contact your administrator to request a card replacement.
Are the batteries on the cards rechargeable?
No, when the battery dies on the card the card must be replaced. It cannot be charged.
Card Assignment
Can contact cards be cleared and reassigned to a new employee in case of employee turnover?
Yes, cards be reassigned. Contact support@safer.me and we can help with this.
What happens if a Saferme member is already registered to one card and another card is assigned to them?
This will not be possible because a member will not be allowed to have more than one card issued at the same time on the system.
Card Specifications
How long do the cards store data for?
Card data is automatically deleted after 21 days, no exceptions. Synching does not effect his.
How does sleep mode work?
The cards generally work by scanning and broadcasting their presence on a regular interval using a Bluetooth radio. This is what drains the battery the most.
To save battery, the cards have an accelerometer inside – a component that measures motion (in all directions). This is what smart watches etc use to measure steps.
An accelerometer does not drain the battery very much at all. The cards are set to periodically check this accelerometer. When there hasn’t been a lot of motion for fifteen minutes the card turns off the radio – aka “goes to sleep”. During the time the card is asleep it still checks the accelerometer for motion, but does not scan/broadcast – saving battery power.
If the card is moved while it is asleep, it will wake up immediately and start scanning. However, if it doesn’t get more than the initial movement it will go back to sleep after 5 minutes. If it does get more motion it will stay awake for at least fifteen minutes (and only go back to sleep if it’s not moved for 15 minutes).
The cards have tuned thresholds for motion so that if a card is placed somewhere where it won’t move – e.g. on a desk – it will eventually go to sleep. When the card is worn on a person (on a lanyard or belt clip) the natural motion of the person (even from breathing) will be enough to keep it awake. The cards operate on the side of caution and so the cards are more likely to be awake than asleep if there is at least a little bit of motion.
Are there any buttons on the card to turn on/off?
There is one button on the card. To activate the card the button needs to be pressed until a green light flashes. Once it has been activated it will remain on unless it lies flat for longer than 15 mins.
The card can not be turned off by this button. The button is only used to activate the card or to connect the card via bluetooth to the SaferMe Sync app.
Contact Tracing
What is the difference between a first degree contact and a second degree contact?
A first degree contact is when person 1 and person 2 have direct contact with each other. Person 1 tests positive for COVID-19. Person 2 then has direct contact with Person 3. Person 3 would be a second degree contact of Person 1.