How to use the online alarm clock
While another volunteer briefs you before you take over the neighbourhood patrol, an alarm for 11:16 pm marks the moment to head outside. It gives the handover a clear end, so keys, torch and any notes can change hands without the shift drifting towards 12:00 am.
Because your handset may fall asleep before the changeover is finished, leave this alarm page running where it remains visible and keep the handset awake. If the browser is closed or the handset sleeps, the neighbourhood patrol alarm will not sound, which could leave the other volunteer waiting. Check the volume now and keep the handset close enough to hear over a television or quiet conversation.
Once the late-evening patrol ends, the sleep still available may be easier to protect if the return home stays uncomplicated. Set out a glass of water and anything needed for bed before leaving, then keep bright lights and noisy jobs to a minimum on return. At 11:16 pm, even a short delay can push bedtime beyond midnight, so agree beforehand who will handle any final notes after the handover.
Common questions
Do I need an account or an app?
Neither. Choose a time and a sound, press Start, and it runs in this browser tab. Nothing is downloaded, nothing is registered, and closing the page leaves nothing behind on the device.
Can I change the sound?
Yes, there is a short list of tones to pick from before you press Start. Softer sounds are easy to sleep through, so a firmer bell tends to be the safer choice for anything early in the morning.
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
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