A mobile device comprising a processing module and, coupled thereto, a user interface module and a memory module , wherein information associated with the user is stored in the memory module , wherein the processing module is configured to: receive from a wireless network an alert message issued by an alert issuer ; access the memory module automatically to retrieve (i) previously stored information associated with the user or (ii) previously stored information associated with the user and previously stored information associated with the mobile device ; obtain information associated with the user by: a. presenting, using the user interface module , a series of one or more prompts to the user for specified user information; and b. receiving information indicative of user response to the series of one or more prompts, wherein the series of prompts or questions are adaptive based at least on mobile device information; generate a response message based at least in part on the obtained information , the response message comprising information associated with the mobile device and the information associated with the user, wherein the information associated with the user comprises user status information obtained via the user response to a prompt; and send via the wireless network the response message to a recipient other than the alert issuer ; if the user was unresponsive to prompts for a predetermined period, generate and send the response message automatically, the response message indicating that the user has not responded to one or more prompts for user information. receive from a wireless network an alert message issued by an alert issuer ; access the memory module automatically to retrieve (i) previously stored information associated with the user or (ii) previously stored information associated with the user and previously stored information associated with the mobile device ; obtain information associated with the user by: a. presenting, using the user interface module , a series of one or more prompts to the user for specified user information; and b. receiving information indicative of user response to the series of one or more prompts, wherein the series of prompts or questions are adaptive based at least on mobile device information; a. presenting, using the user interface module , a series of one or more prompts to the user for specified user information; and b. receiving information indicative of user response to the series of one or more prompts, wherein the series of prompts or questions are adaptive based at least on mobile device information; generate a response message based at least in part on the obtained information , the response message comprising information associated with the mobile device and the information associated with the user, wherein the information associated with the user comprises user status information obtained via the user response to a prompt; and send via the wireless network the response message to a recipient other than the alert issuer ; if the user was unresponsive to prompts for a predetermined period, generate and send the response message automatically, the response message indicating that the user has not responded to one or more prompts for user information. <EOS>