iPhone emergency features | What the Tech?

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (WHAT THE TECH?) — There are many different ways to get emergency services using an iPhone’s features when there is no cell phone service or it’s limited.

You’ll see Emergency SOS at the bottom of the page in the settings. You won’t have to turn it on but you should take a few important steps. We’ll get to that.

If you ever try to call 911 and the call doesn’t go through, the iPhone 14 will start a satellite connection to contact emergency services.

Apple has a demo on that page. It will then ask you to give the phone’s compass permission to see your exact location.

The phone will search the skies for a satellite and make the connection to a 911 call center. You’ll receive text messages asking for what happened and an approximate location. If someone is injured, text messages will offer help on how to treat them until help arrives.

In addition to sending location information and details to first responders, Apple’s emergency service will automatically contact your emergency contacts – provided you’ve set it up.

Here’s how to do that:

Go into the “Health” app, settings and “Medical ID.” Add emergency contacts and their phone numbers. Then, while you’re at it, enter any of your medical conditions and medications. This helps responders quickly gather essential information if they’re unable to respond.

This only works on iPhone 14 and future iPhones, and iOS 16 and future updates. Also, if you haven’t already done it, set up your emergency contacts in Settings. That way, if something happens to you and you need help, you can notify your family and friends with just a click of a button.

You can try that demo without actually calling 911. However, Apple says you should be outside and in clear view of the sky. Also, if your emergency contacts don’t have an iPhone, then they’ll get a text notifying you’ve called for help.

That’s “What the Tech?” and a little bit about your iPhone and its emergency features.

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