How to Use Emergency SOS Via Satellite on Your iPhone

If you're an iPhone owner with a recent version of iOS and a compatible satellite service, Emergency SOS lets you semi-automatically call emergency services and let one or more emergency contacts know that you need help. It also enables a loud alarm and allows you to include photos with the message.

Location Sharing

In an unforgiving world, we never know when a friend or family member could be in danger. Thankfully, many new phone features can help them out.

One such feature is Emergency Location Sharing. When activated, your iPhone calls your emergency contacts and shares your location with them via text and in the Life360 app.

You can trigger the feature by pressing the side button and either volume button (iPhone models later than 7), or the power button five times rapidly (iPhone 7 and older). Once your emergency contact receives the call, they can view your current location in a map in the app. Your location is shared continuously for up to eight hours unless you cancel it.

Apple’s new Emergency SOS via Satellite feature works similarly but connects with emergency services over a satellite connection instead of cellular or Wi-Fi. It’s available on the iPhone 14 and iPhone Pro with iOS 16 or later, and it’s free for two years.

Google’s ELS is also a useful safety feature that works on over 99% of Android devices. It lets first responders locate emergency callers and texters more accurately using a combination of GPS, cell, Wi-Fi and sensor data. In addition, it can provide additional information like the caller’s device language settings so that first responders can better understand the situation and offer appropriate support.

Medical ID

If you're in a serious accident, Medical ID lets first responders see the important information on your phone. You don't have to enter your passcode and they can even dial a emergency number from the lock screen, depending on how you set it up.

To activate Medical ID, quickly press the side or sleep/wake button five times and slide across the Emergency SOS option. This will call your local emergency services (usually 911 in the US) and share your location with them. It will also send a message to one or more emergency contacts from your Contacts app.

The information you include in Medical ID is visible to anyone with a passcode or Touch ID, and to emergency personnel who find your iPhone. You can add your name, emergency contacts, allergies and reactions, health conditions, medications, blood type, height, weight, and other helpful details.

If you want first responders to be able to open your Medical ID from the lock screen, turn on Show When Locked in the Health app and tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner to edit. You can also turn on Share During Emergency Call, which allows your Medical ID to be displayed while someone calls your iPhone using the Emergency SOS shortcut. You can also set a reminder to update your Medical ID every three to six months.

Calling Emergency Services

When Emergency SOS is activated, it contacts local emergency services (in the US, that's 911) and shares your location with them and your emergency contacts. Lone Worker Alarm Devices UK It also turns on your phone's flashlight and starts recording a video.

You can disable these features in the Emergency SOS settings screen if you want to avoid accidental presses. But you can still press the button or swipe up from the bottom of the display to get the same features.

If you haven't created any emergency contacts, you can do so in the Emergency SOS menu by tapping Add Contacts. You can then toggle the switches to choose what information you want to share with them, including your battery status and when you start and end a call. You must have location permission enabled for this to work.

One thing to keep in mind is that your emergency contacts will receive a text message with your real-time location every time you activate Emergency SOS, even if you turn it off before calling or when the device is asleep. It might not be the best idea to have teenagers using this feature, especially in a school setting.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Emergency SOS via satellite feature only works in areas where there's no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. It's currently available in the United States, Canada and some select countries in Europe and Australia. It will expand to the UK, France, Germany and Ireland in December 2022 and then to other countries in April 2023. The expansion likely depends on whether Globalstar can find suitable satellite coverage in those locations.

Demo Mode

As any seasoned hiker or backpacker will tell you, it's important to practice with emergency gear and features before you need them. Luckily, Apple's new Emergency SOS via Satellite feature has a built-in demo mode for just this purpose. According to 9to5Mac, users can activate the feature from their iPhone 14 Series devices running iOS 16.1. Once in an area without cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, they can use the feature by tapping "Try Demo" in Settings and following the instructions. The feature disables cellular service and connects to a satellite so that the device can pinpoint its location and display an SOS message on the screen.

The message is sent through Globalstar's growing constellation of satellites. The satellites then relay it to ground stations at key locations around the globe, or to an Apple Emergency Response Center that's located close to your current location (if there is one). The message also includes GPS coordinates.

You don't need to be in an actual emergency to trigger the satellite functionality, but you should have a clear view of the sky. Depending on your location, dense foliage or tall buildings may slow the connection speed. If the phone does not connect to a satellite, it will attempt to call 911 instead. Users can also opt to have the phone's emergency contacts receive a text message with the same information by responding "YES" to the first message.