How to trigger an emergency contact? A comprehensive guide

According to the National Safety Council, more than 30 million people are injured in preventable accidents each year, highlighting the critical need for quick action in a crisis. Knowing how to trigger an emergency contact effectively can make all the difference in getting help promptly during a medical or personal safety emergency.

Quick Summary

You can trigger an emergency contact on most modern mobile devices by using a pre-configured Emergency SOS feature, often activated by a series of quick button presses, which notifies your chosen contacts and shares your location with them automatically.

Key Points

• Pre-configuration is essential: You must set up emergency contacts and medical information in your device's settings before an emergency happens.

• Device-specific triggers: The method to activate SOS varies by device. For iPhones, it's typically five side presses or side + volume buttons. For Android, it's often five power button presses.

• Automatic location sharing: When triggered, most modern devices automatically share your location with emergency services and your pre-set emergency contacts.

• Emergency contacts are notified: A text message alert is automatically sent to your emergency contacts when the SOS feature is used.

• Medical ID access: Medical information can be made available from the lock screen, giving first responders immediate access to critical health details.

• Beyond phones: Smartwatches and dedicated Personal Emergency Response Systems also offer SOS functionality for situations where your phone may not be accessible.

Understanding the importance of emergency contacts

An emergency contact list is a vital part of your personal safety plan, ensuring that in a medical or other crisis, someone you trust is immediately notified. Today's smartphones and smartwatches are equipped with sophisticated features designed to quickly alert both professional emergency services and your personal contacts, but they must be set up correctly ahead of time.

Triggering an emergency contact on an iPhone

Apple's Emergency SOS feature requires setup in the Health app.

Setting up emergency contacts on iPhone:

1. Open the Health app and tap your profile picture.
2. Select Medical ID, then Edit.
3. Scroll to Emergency Contacts, tap Add Emergency Contact, choose a contact, and specify their relationship.
4. Tap Done.

To trigger Emergency SOS on iPhone:

• iPhone 8 or later: Press and hold the side button and a volume button, or rapidly press the side button five times.
• iPhone 7 or earlier: Rapidly press the side (or top) button five times.

Triggering an emergency contact on an Android device

Android's safety features are in the Personal Safety app, though steps can vary by device.

Setting up emergency contacts on Android:

1. Open Settings, tap Safety & emergency, then Emergency contacts.
2. Tap Add contact and choose from your address book.
3. Also set up your Medical Information.

To trigger Emergency SOS on most Android devices:

• Rapidly press the power button five times or more. This often initiates a countdown before contacting emergency services and sharing location with contacts. Samsung Galaxy devices may use a three or four-press sequence.

What happens when Emergency SOS is triggered?

When activated, your device typically calls emergency services, sends text alerts and your location to contacts, and may share location updates. Some devices, like Samsung Galaxy, can also send photos and audio.

Comparison of SOS features across devices

Feature	iPhone	Android (e.g., Pixel)	Samsung Galaxy	Apple Watch	Android Wear
Setup Location	Health app	Settings > Safety & emergency	Settings > Safety & emergency	Watch app on iPhone	Watch's Settings app
Trigger Method	5x side button or side + volume buttons	5x power button	3x or 4x side button	Hold side button	Hold side button
SOS Activation	Call initiated after countdown	Call initiated after countdown	Sends SOS message, can auto-call	Call initiated after countdown	Call initiated after countdown
Location Sharing	Yes, sends to contacts after call	Yes, shares location with contacts	Yes, sends link to location	Yes, sends to contacts after call	Yes, shares location with contacts
Multimedia Capture	No built-in feature	Optional video recording via Safety app	Optional photo and audio capture	No built-in feature	No built-in feature

Beyond your phone: Other methods and considerations

Smartwatches also have SOS functions. Dedicated Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) and voice assistants like Alexa Emergency Assist offer alternative ways to contact help. It's crucial to inform your emergency contacts about their role and provide them with necessary medical information. The Mayo Clinic offers resources on organizing emergency health information.

What to do if you trigger Emergency SOS by mistake

False alarms can be canceled during the initial countdown by tapping 'Cancel' on the screen. If a call goes through, simply tell the dispatcher it was a mistake.

Conclusion

Setting up and knowing how to trigger an emergency contact is a vital safety measure. By configuring this feature on your devices, you ensure that help and support are accessible during a critical moment. It's a simple step that can have a significant impact on your safety and peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set up my emergency contacts on an iPhone?

Open the Health app, tap your profile picture, select Medical ID, and then tap Edit. Scroll down to the Emergency Contacts section to add or remove contacts from your list. Make sure to tap Done to save your changes.

What happens when I press the power button five times on an Android phone?

On most modern Android phones, pressing the power button five or more times will trigger the Emergency SOS feature. This will automatically start a countdown to call emergency services and alert your configured emergency contacts.

Can I trigger an emergency contact on a locked phone?

Yes, all major smartphones are designed to allow Emergency SOS activation even when the phone is locked. On iPhones, you can also access your Medical ID information directly from the lock screen.

Do I need cell service or WiFi to use Emergency SOS?

While the call to emergency services can often be made without cellular service in many areas, location sharing with your personal emergency contacts requires a network connection (cellular or WiFi). Some newer iPhones can use satellite connectivity in remote areas.

How can I cancel a false Emergency SOS alarm?

During the initial countdown period after triggering Emergency SOS, a 'Cancel' button will appear on the screen. Tap this button to stop the process before it contacts emergency services. If the call has already gone through, simply inform the dispatcher that it was a mistake.

Is an emergency contact different from a power of attorney?

Yes. An emergency contact is someone you authorize to be notified and kept up-to-date in a crisis. A power of attorney for health care is a legal document that gives someone the authority to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot.

What information should I provide to my emergency contacts?

You should share relevant medical information, such as conditions, allergies, and medications. You should also ensure they are comfortable with the responsibility and know where to find important documents, like your Medical ID.