How to Set Emergency Contacts and Activate Safety Features on Your Devices

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s better to be safe than sorry,” and in today’s world, technology can help us stay safe in a variety of situations. Whether you're out for a walk, driving, or even at home, having emergency contacts set up and knowing how to use your devices to help you can make a big difference in times of need. From your smartphone to wearable devices, there are numerous tools designed to keep you safe—and they often come with built-in features to alert loved ones if something goes wrong. Let’s explore all the ways you can set emergency contacts and activate safety features on your devices to keep yourself protected.

1. iPhone: Quick and Easy Emergency Features

Your iPhone has a lot of safety features built right in, and setting them up is simple.

Set Up Emergency Contacts on iPhone:

1. Open the Health app.

2. Tap on Your Profile (the icon in the top-right corner).

3. Tap Medical ID and then Edit.

4. Scroll down and tap Add Emergency Contact.

5. Pick someone from your contacts and add their relationship to you.

6. Turn on Show When Locked so first responders can access this info, even if your phone is locked.

This setup lets people see your emergency contacts and important health info in an emergency, without needing to unlock your phone.

Use Emergency SOS on iPhone:

If you ever need help fast:

1. Press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons at the same time.

2. After a few seconds, the Emergency SOS slider will show up. Slide it to call emergency services.

3. If you keep holding the buttons, it will automatically call 911 and message your emergency contacts with your location.

You can also use your iPhone’s camera and location features to send live photos, videos, and updates to your contacts if needed. Some apps let you activate your camera and share this info during an emergency.

2. Apple Watch: Automatic Help When You Need It Most

If you have an Apple Watch, it can automatically help you in certain situations, like a hard fall or an accident.

Set Up Emergency Contacts on Apple Watch:

1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

2. Tap My Watch > Health > Medical ID.

3. Tap Edit and add emergency contacts from your list.

4. Make sure Show When Locked is turned on so emergency responders can access your information.

Fall Detection on Apple Watch:

The Apple Watch can detect a hard fall and will automatically alert you. If you don’t respond within a minute, it will call emergency services and notify your emergency contacts with your location.

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

2. Tap My Watch > Emergency SOS.

3. Turn on Fall Detection.

You can also set this to be active only during workouts if that’s more convenient.

3. Android Phones: Simple Safety Features

Android phones also offer great features to help in an emergency, from sending SOS messages to sharing your location.

Set Up Emergency Contacts on Android:

1. Open Settings and search for Emergency Information.

2. Tap Add Contact to include emergency contacts.

3. You can also add important health information, which emergency responders can view without unlocking your phone.

Use Emergency SOS on Android:

1. Open Settings and search for "SOS" or "Emergency".

2. Find Emergency SOS and turn it on.

3. To trigger an SOS, press the Power button quickly three times.

Your phone will send a message to your emergency contacts with your location, and depending on your settings, it may even call emergency services.

4. Cars: Automatic Help After an Accident

Many modern cars come with emergency systems that can automatically alert emergency services if you’re in an accident.

Automatic Crash Notification (ACN):

If you’re in a serious car crash, systems like OnStar or BMW Assist can automatically detect the impact and alert emergency services, sending your location to them. Some systems also notify your emergency contacts. These systems can be life-saving if you're unable to make a call yourself after a crash.

How to Set It Up:

• Make sure your car’s safety system is activated. This often requires you to register your car with a service like OnStar.

• Add your emergency contacts to your vehicle’s system using the car’s app or dashboard.

5. Smart Home Devices: Helping at Home

Smart home devices can also keep you safe. Devices like Amazon Echo and Google Nest can call emergency services or send alerts if there’s a problem.

Smart Speakers:

Both Amazon Echo and Google Nest can make emergency calls. Just say, "Alexa, call 911," or "Hey Google, dial emergency services," and they’ll place the call for you.

Smart Smoke Detectors:

Devices like Nest Protect can alert you to smoke or carbon monoxide and notify your emergency contacts or emergency services if necessary.

6. Safety Apps: Quick Help at Your Fingertips

There are also several safety apps that can help you in an emergency. These apps provide various emergency features such as location tracking, SOS alerts, and the ability to capture live video or photos in distressing situations. While not all apps offer all the features (like live streaming video or automatic alerts), each one provides a powerful safety net by ensuring that your location and situation are communicated quickly to those who can help.

Be sure to explore each app and choose the one that best fits your needs and preferences.

• Life360: Location tracking, crash detection, and SOS alerts to family and friends.

• bSafe: Real-time live video streaming, location sharing, and SOS alerts to emergency contacts.

• Noonlight: Panic button with location sharing, automatic police notification, and live video streaming.

• Circle of 6: Fast SOS alerts with location sharing, plus the option to send photos and audio to trusted contacts.

• SafeTrek: Silent panic button that sends location and alerts to emergency contacts and authorities.

• Watch Over Me: Real-time location tracking, emergency alerts, and the ability to send live video and audio to trusted contacts.

• My Panic Button: Immediate SOS alert with location, plus live audio and video recording sent to emergency contacts.

• Red Panic Button: Simple panic button with location sharing and the ability to send video and audio alerts to your emergency contacts.

Be Prepared and Stay Safe

Setting up emergency contacts and knowing how to use your devices’ safety features takes just a few minutes, but it can make a huge difference in an emergency. Whether it’s your iPhone, Apple Watch, Android phone, car, or even a smart home device, there are tools available that can help you get the help you need quickly.

Take a few minutes to go through these steps, set up your contacts, and activate the features that can help keep you safe. It’s a small effort that can give you big peace of mind knowing that help is just a button away.

If you're interested in learning more about what an emergency contact can and cannot do on your behalf in an emergency, and how it differs from a Power of Attorney (POA), be sure to check out our other blog post here. We break down the key differences and provide valuable insights into how each can support you in various situations.