Call emergency services quickly with iPhone

iPhone users with iOS 11 or later can set up an emergency SOS notification. The emergency services are then activated with a few pushes of a button. Certain contacts will also receive a message about your emergency.

Set up SOS emergency notification like this:

• Tap the app Institutions.
• Scroll to the bottom and tap Emergency notification.
• If necessary, tap the slide behind ‘Automatic call’. The slider turns green and the function is on. In the event of an emergency call, the emergency services are called immediately.
• Do you want an emergency alarm to go off for three seconds before you call the emergency number? Then, if the function is not already enabled, tap the slider behind ‘Countdown sound’. The slider turns green and the function is on.
• On an iPhone 8 and later, tap the slider behind “Call with side button.” The slider turns green. Now you can quickly reach the emergency services with the power button of the iPhone.
• Also add SOS contacts. They will receive a message with your current location when you make an emergency call. Are there already contacts? Then you have already selected SOS contacts for the Medical ID at Settings > Health. If not, tap Configure emergency contact to add a contact.
• Optionally tap Create Medical ID.
• Tap on Change and fill in your details.
• Scroll down and tap Add SOS Contact.
• Tap the person who should receive a message when you are in need.
• Indicate what the relationship is with the person concerned, such as that he/she is your child.
• Add more people via Add SOS Contact.
• Tap on Ready.

You can always change the contacts at a later time via Institutions > Emergency notification.

In an emergency, press the iPhone’s power button five times in a row. A warning sound goes off, the iPhone counts down from three seconds to zero, and then 911 is called. After calling the emergency number, SOS contacts will receive a text message with your location. If you change location, they will receive a notification with the new location.

Those who do not use the ‘Automatic call’ and/or ‘Call with side button’ (iPhone 8 and higher) function can still make an emergency call. This just takes more time. In an emergency, press the power button five times in a row. If the Side Button Call feature is off on iPhone 8 or later, long press the Power and Volume buttons. The option ‘SOS emergency message’ appears on the screen. Drag it to the right to make an emergency call. An alarm goes off, the iPhone counts down from three to zero seconds, and then the emergency number is called. After calling the emergency number, SOS contacts will receive an SMS with your location. If you change location, they will be notified of the new location.

Tap on Stop > Stop calling if you accidentally send an emergency message. When you are no longer in danger, turn off sharing your location with SOS contacts. To do this, tap Stop sharing SOS location. If you don’t see this, tap first Institutions > SOS emergency message.