What the Tech: How to call 911 on someone elseโs phone
By JAMIE TUCKER Consumer Technology Reporter
Imagine being out in public and coming across someone who needs immediate medical help. You donโt know them. You donโt know if theyโve had a heart attack, stroke, or something else.
Your first instinct is to pull out your phone and call 9-1-1.
That will certainly help, but thereโs a better way to call 9-1-1 for someone else. Itโs best to call from their phone. And you can, even if their phone is locked with a passcode.
If they have an iPhone, just swipe up on the screen to reveal a phone keypad. You wonโt be able to call anyone else but you can dial 9-1-1.
If you swipe up again and tap โemergencyโ at the bottom of the screen youโll have an option to see their โmedical IDโ. Tapping it should show the personโs name, medications they take, and their emergency contacts.
If theyโre wearing an Apple Watch itโs probably unlocked. Even if it isnโt press and hold the bottom button. Swipe to make an SOS call which dials 9-1-1 and sends a message to their emergency contacts saying youโve called for help and shows your precise location.
This works if theyโve set up Emergency contacts. If you havenโt done this, you should. Open the Health app on an iPhone and tap your picture at the top right. Fill in as much as you think is necessary, especially any medication information that would be important in an emergency. Add your emergency contacts and phone numbers.
Make sure โShow when lockedโ and โshare during emergency callโ are turned on.
On Android devices, swipe up on the screen. Tap Emergency call to see their name, call 9-1-1 and view their medical information and emergency contacts. Android phone owners should enter that information. be aware this could be different depending on which Android device you have.
If you have young kids, teach them how to do it. take an old phone, it doesnโt matter if itโs connected to a phone plan or not. Plug it into a charger, connect it to WiFi and teach them how to use it.
It could be the only way they can call for help if they canโt unlock mom or dadโs phone. It could save someoneโs life.
