Emergency SOS: iPhone feature automatically calls 999 when you're in danger

Your emergency contacts will be alerted to your location too

Friday 29 December 2017 07:50 EST

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

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If you find yourself in a dangerous or even life-threatening situation, calling the emergency services rapidly is essential.

And thanks to a little-known feature on iOS 11, iPhone users have a shortcut to doing so.

It’s called Emergency SOS and means your phone automatically calls 999 - or whatever the emergency number in your area may be.

“When you make a call with SOS, your iPhone automatically calls the local emergency number,” Apple explains, adding that in some countries, you might then need to choose which specific service you require.

The function also allows your emergency contacts to be automatically notified.

“After an emergency call ends, your iPhone alerts your emergency contacts with a text message, unless you choose to cancel,” Apple says. Your emergency contacts will be sent your current location as well as updates for a period of time if your location changes.

If you have location services switched off, they’ll temporarily be turned on.

Here’s how to use Emergency SOS on iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus:

Press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the Emergency SOS slider appears.
Drag the Emergency SOS slider to call emergency services. If you continue to hold down the side button and Volume button, instead of dragging the slider, a countdown begins and an alert sounds. If you hold down the buttons until the countdown ends, your iPhone automatically calls emergency services.

How to use Emergency SOS on iPhone 7 or earlier:

Rapidly press the side button five times. The Emergency SOS slider will appear. (In India, you only need to press the button three times, then your iPhone automatically calls emergency services.)
Drag the Emergency SOS slider to call emergency services.

To ensure your emergency contacts are alerted, you need to have them already set up in your phone.

Here’s how to set up emergency contacts:

Open the Health app and tap the Medical ID tab.
Tap Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contacts.
Tap green plus icon to add an emergency contact.
Tap a contact, then add their relationship.
Tap Done to save your changes.

It’s a handy tool that could help keep you safe if you run into trouble.

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