Emergency SOS on iPhone and Apple Watch offers 911 alternative
Apple® has added one more tool to the Swiss-army functionality of its iPhone® and Apple Watch® — and this one could save your life.
With Emergency SOS now available on iOS11 or watchOS®3, you can quickly and easily call for help and alert your emergency contacts. And there’s no additional app to buy or software to load, as Emergency SOS rides onboard and ready to activate when you need it most.
Emergency SOS accomplishes three critical tasks. First, it calls emergency services using whatever number is appropriate for your location, especially important when you are traveling abroad. Next, immediately after your emergency call ends, it sends a text message with your location to the emergency contacts you’ve previously established in Apple’s Health app on your phone or watch. Finally, Emergency SOS displays your medical ID so first responders can be alerted to medication allergies or other preexisting conditions.
For iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone X, press and hold the side button and either of the Volume buttons until the Emergency SOS slider appears. Either drag the Emergency SOS slider to call emergency services right away, or just keep holding the side and Volume buttons. If you continue holding the buttons down, a countdown begins and an alert sounds. At the end of the countdown, the iPhone’s Auto Call automatically places the urgent call.
On iPhone 7 or earlier, rapidly press the side button five times to bring up the Emergency SOS slider. Drag the slider to call emergency services. (The quintuple-click works on the new iPhone, too; it’s an option in Settings > Emergency SOS).
Apple Watch acts like the newer iPhone models. Press and hold the side button to bring up the Emergency SOS slider, or keep holding the side button to start a countdown. At the end of the countdown, your Apple Watch's Auto Call automatically places the urgent call. Note that Apple Watch must be connected to your iPhone, be on a known Wi-Fi network and have Wi-Fi Calling enabled or be an Apple Watch Series 3 with a cellular plan to enable Emergency SOS.
To add emergency contacts, follow these steps on your iPhone:
- Open the Health app, and tap the Medical ID button at the lower right.
- Tap Edit, and then scroll down to Emergency Contacts.
- Tap the green + button to add a contact.
- Select the desired person and, when prompted, select their relationship to you.
- Tap Done to save your changes.
Or follow these steps on your Apple Watch:
- Open the Health app, and tap the Medical ID tab.
- Tap Edit, and then scroll down to Emergency Contacts.
- Tap the green + button to add a contact.
- Tap a contact, then add their relationship.
- Tap Done to save your changes.
It’s a smart idea to want to test Emergency SOS in a non-critical situation, and you can do so without actually placing the call. On both the iPhone and Apple Watch, there is a red hangup button you can tap, followed by an End Call or Stop Calling button. Similarly, you can cancel notifications to your emergency contacts.
You’ll also want to stop calls if they’re accidentally placed. Simply press the Stop button, then tap Stop Calling. And if you’re concerned about inadvertently activating the Auto Call feature, you can turn it off in Settings > Emergency SOS on the iPhone; and in My Watch > General > Emergency SOS on Apple Watch.
Finally, bringing up the screen with the Emergency SOS slider automatically disables Touch ID® and Face ID® — so be sure to enter your passcode to reenable them.
If you do find yourself in a life-threatening situation, you are no longer limited to 911. Emergency SOS may just prove to be a faster and more effective way of contacting emergency services, family and friends. For more information on this important tool, contact CranstonIT at 888-813-5558 or support@cranstoninc.com.