If you’re using a new Apple iPhone 8, 8 Plus or X, there’s a great new feature that is included with your device: Emergency SOS. If there’s one gadget you always have on yourself is your smartphone, and for those of you with iPhones, you have a device that can save you in case an emergency arises. This is a must have for elderly, people who live alone, college students and for young ones who are sometimes on their own and might need help at times. Let’s hope you never have to use this feature, but this is one you need to be aware of and need to know how to use it.
Here’s how to use Emergency SOS on the iPhone 8, 8 Plus or X.
- Push and hold the power button on the right side of the phone while holding a volume up or down button at the same time.
- An Emergency SOS slider will pop up. Slide it to the right to activate it to call emergency services in your locale.
- 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.
- After the call ends, your iPhone sends your Emergency contacts a text message with your current location, unless you choose to cancel. If Location Services is off, it will temporarily turn on.
How to add emergency contacts to your iPhone
- Open the Health app and tap the Medical ID tab.
- Tap Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contacts.
- Tap
to add an emergency contact. - Tap a contact, then add their relationship.
- Tap Done to save your changes.