How to Use Emergency SOS on Apple Watch: A Life-Saving Feature You Need to Know

Your Apple Watch isn't just a device for tracking fitness and receiving notifications—it's also a powerful safety tool that could potentially save your life. With the Emergency SOS feature, you can quickly call for help, notify emergency contacts, and share your location with a simple press of a button. Whether you're in a dangerous situation or experiencing a medical emergency, knowing how to activate Emergency SOS on Apple Watch can be vital. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to use this feature so that you're prepared for any situation.

Why Use Emergency SOS on Apple Watch?

The Emergency SOS feature on your Apple Watch allows you to contact emergency services right from your wrist. This can be a lifesaver if you’re unable to reach your phone or need immediate assistance. The feature is designed to help you in situations like:

• Medical emergencies (like a heart attack or a fall).
• Dangerous situations (like being followed or in an accident).
• Natural disasters (like earthquakes or floods).

How to Activate Emergency SOS on Apple Watch

Using Emergency SOS is simple, but it's important to understand how it works.

Step 1: Press and Hold the Side Button

To activate Emergency SOS:

• Press and hold the side button (the flat button below the Digital Crown) until you see the "Emergency SOS" slider appear on the screen.

Step 2: Drag the Emergency SOS Slider

Once the slider appears, drag the Emergency SOS slider to the right. This will immediately contact local emergency services.

Step 3: Keep Holding for Auto Call

If you're unable to drag the slider, simply keep holding the side button. Your watch will automatically start a countdown, followed by an audible alarm.

After the countdown ends, your Apple Watch will automatically place a call to emergency services.

Step 4: End the Call

Once the call has connected, you will be able to speak with emergency services. After the call, tap End Call to finish the process.

What Happens After You Call Emergency Services?

Once you've triggered Emergency SOS:

• Your Apple Watch will automatically notify your emergency contacts (if you've set them up) with a text message.
• The message will include your current location via GPS, which can be critical in getting help to you quickly.
• Your watch will also send updates to your contacts if your location changes.

How to Set Up Emergency Contacts on Apple Watch

For the Emergency SOS feature to be most effective, you should set up emergency contacts. Here’s how to do it:

• Open the Health app on your iPhone.
• Tap on your profile picture in the top-right corner.
• Select Medical ID.
• Tap Edit, then scroll down to the Emergency Contacts section.
• Add the contacts you want to notify in case of an emergency.
• Tap Done to save your changes.

Now, whenever you trigger Emergency SOS, your selected contacts will be automatically notified.

Important Emergency SOS Settings on Apple Watch

It's important to customize your settings so that Emergency SOS works as intended. Here's how you can adjust the settings:

• Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
• Scroll down and tap SOS.
• You'll see two key settings:
  • Hold Side Button to Call: This allows you to call emergency services by holding down the side button.
  • Fall Detection: If enabled, your watch will detect when you've taken a hard fall. If you're immobile for a minute, it will automatically call emergency services for you.

Why You Should Set Up Emergency SOS Today

The Emergency SOS feature on Apple Watch is one of the most powerful tools for personal safety. You might never need it, but it's invaluable to have, just in case. Whether you're going for a run, traveling alone, or just going about daily life, Emergency SOS ensures that help is always a press away.

Take a few minutes today to configure your emergency contacts and familiarize yourself with the process. It could make all the difference in a critical moment.