Keep Alive

The Keep Alive feature is VitalHops' core safety mechanism. It ensures your asset information reaches your nominees if you become unresponsive for an extended period.

How It Works

Keep Alive operates on a simple check-in system:

1. You choose a check-in interval (how often you need to confirm you're active)
2. VitalHops sends you check-in reminders via email and in-app notifications
3. You acknowledge the check-in by logging in or clicking the check-in button
4. If you don't respond within the escalation period, the system escalates to your emergency contacts

Setting Up Keep Alive

1. Navigate to Settings > Keep Alive
2. Choose your check-in interval
3. Add your contact details (confirmed phone and email)
4. Add emergency contacts
5. Activate Keep Alive

Check-In Intervals

Shorter intervals (5 minutes, 30 minutes) are available for testing purposes.

Check-In Methods

You can acknowledge a check-in in several ways:

• Login — Simply logging into your VitalHops account counts as a check-in
• In-App Button — Click the check-in confirmation when prompted on your dashboard
• Email OTP — Respond to the check-in email with the provided verification code

Emergency Contacts

Set up contacts who will be notified during escalation:

Primary Contacts

• Your confirmed phone number
• Your confirmed email address

Alternate Contacts

• Alternate phone number
• Alternate email address

Emergency Contacts

• Add one or more emergency contacts with priority ordering
• Each contact needs a name, phone number, and email
• Contacts are reached in priority order during escalation

Escalation Workflow

When a check-in is missed, the following process begins:

1. Notification Phase — You receive reminders via email and in-app notifications
2. Reminder Count — Multiple reminders are sent over the escalation period
3. Escalation — If no response after the escalation period, the system contacts your emergency contacts
4. Support Notification — The VitalHops support team is notified to assist

Status Tracking

You can monitor your Keep Alive status at any time:

• Last Check-In — When you last confirmed your activity
• Next Check-In Due — When your next check-in is expected
• Status — Pending, Notified, Acknowledged, or Escalated
• Notification Count — How many reminders have been sent

Modifying Keep Alive Settings

You can change your check-in interval, emergency contacts, or disable Keep Alive at any time from the Settings page. Changes take effect immediately.

Best Practices

• Choose a check-in interval that matches your usage patterns
• Add at least two emergency contacts for redundancy
• Keep your contact details up to date
• Respond to check-in reminders promptly to avoid unnecessary escalation
• Inform your emergency contacts about VitalHops so they know what to expect