iPhone 8/Plus SOS Calling

[Rhyalus]

Hi All,

I have one daughter with an Samsung Android phone and another daughter with an iPhone 8 running iOS 12...

On the Android I have it set so that a triple power button press sends emergency texts and gps location to specific contacts.

On the iPhone I see where I can set it to call 911 with the volume and power button press, but is there also a function to do the same thing as the Android?

I have not been able to hunt down an answer.

Thanks,
R

 

[Givmeabrek]

There is an option to make an emergency call with a 5 time side button press. It's under Settings, Emergency SOS.

 

[Rhyalus]

There is an option to make an emergency call with a 5 time side button press. It's under Settings, Emergency SOS.

Many thanks for the reply... we figured out to add emergency contacts in the health app, but when we tested it, the phone made a silly alarm sound and then wanted to call 911. Is there a way to make it just call the contacts (and to do this silently)?

I may have to take the phone away from my daughter to do this myself.

Now I also want to check if the Android can also call 911

Thanks,
R

 

[roncito]

Hi All,

I have one daughter with an Samsung Android phone and another daughter with an iPhone 8 running iOS 12...

On the Android I have it set so that a triple power button press sends emergency texts and gps location to specific contacts.

On the iPhone I see where I can set it to call 911 with the volume and power button press, but is there also a function to do the same thing as the Android?

I have not been able to hunt down an answer.

Thanks,
R

Are you talking about the text with gps location? In the health app in the medical ID you can setup emergency contacts, those contacts will be sent a text with location if an emergency SOS call is made.

 

[lclev]

Search the app store for one called Mayday Safety. It is free and may be just you want. Or take a look at SOS! which offers a similar service.

Lisa

 

[Rhyalus]

Are you talking about the text with gps location? In the health app in the medical ID you can setup emergency contacts, those contacts will be sent a text with location if an emergency SOS call is made.

Yes, but so far I have not been able to turn off the loud alarm and/or call to 911.

I was going to test with “autocall off” today.

I want my kids to be able to contact us quickly in situations that might not require police immediately as well.

R

 

[Rhyalus]

Search the app store for one called Mayday Safety. It is free and may be just you want. Or take a look at SOS! which offers a similar service.

Lisa

Thanks ... I will give it a try. Using an app did not occur to me. I was looking for built in tools.

R

 

[Ntombi]

Yes, but so far I have not been able to turn off the loud alarm and/or call to 911.

This is the toggle switch to turn off the alarm sound.

I’m not aware of a way to turn off calling emergency services while using that set of buttons.

But with iOS 12, you can use Shortcuts and make a shortcut that tells the phone to contact a specific number (or set of numbers) with a specific command. I’m 100% sure there are already such shortcuts available in this thread.

 

[Rhyalus]

Hmmm, thanks for the reply Ntombi... I will read up on shortcuts.

I like the idea of a silent sos message, like pressing the phone button x times, but this is an interesting alternative.

Thanks!
R

 

[Dave-Z]

I want my kids to be able to contact us quickly in situations that might not require police immediately as well.

Emergency SOS is for emergencies. It's handy because it notifies local emergency services as well as family, friends, etc. that you select--those individuals may be able to intervene or provide some assistance to you or the authorities. It's not really meant for urgency situations, which seems to be what you are looking for.

However, if you add people as emergency contacts, they also show up on the Medical ID screen: activate the phone without unlocking, tap Emergency then tap Medical ID. Emergency contacts are listed on this screen and you can dial them from it.

You can also select favourites in the Phone app and then add the favourites widget to the widget screen, which should make calling/messaging easier.

 

[Rhyalus]

Emergency SOS is for emergencies. It's handy because it notifies local emergency services as well as family, friends, etc. that you select--those individuals may be able to intervene or provide some assistance to you or the authorities. It's not really meant for urgency situations, which seems to be what you are looking for.

However, if you add people as emergency contacts, they also show up on the Medical ID screen: activate the phone without unlocking, tap Emergency then tap Medical ID. Emergency contacts are listed on this screen and you can dial them from it.

You can also select favourites in the Phone app and then add the favourites widget to the widget screen, which should make calling/messaging easier.

Thanks Dave... you are right.

What I am looking for (in this crazy world) is an easy way for my kids to hit the power button x times so that no one sees what they are doing, and they can contact me swiftly and safely.

I want an sos text and a location... and on some phones you can also get a five second sound sample.

R