Guide to Setting Up Emergency SOS and Fall Detection on Your Apple Watch
Introduction
Your Apple Watch can be a life-saver when emergencies occur, providing features like Emergency SOS and fall detection. This guide will walk you through setting up these critical features on your device.
Setting Up Emergency SOS on Your Apple Watch
Emergency SOS on your Apple Watch allows you to connect with emergency services even when your phone is locked. To set this up, follow these steps:
Step 1: Access the Health App
To start, open the Health app on your iPhone. This app houses all your health-related settings, including those for Emergency SOS and fall detection.
Step 2: Navigate to Medical ID
Within the Health app, find and tap the person icon located in the upper right corner of the Summary screen. This will take you to the ‘Medical Details’ section of your profile. From here, tap on ‘Medical ID’. If you are setting up the Emergency SOS for the first time, you will see a form to enter details such as allergies, medications, blood type, etc. Otherwise, if you have used it before, you will see your existing information.
Tap the ‘Edit’ button in the upper right corner to access the full page if needed.
Step 3: Enable Emergency SOS Features
At the top of the screen, labeled ‘Medical ID’, toggle the ‘Show When Locked’ option to activate. This will allow the Emergency SOS feature to be activated when your Apple Watch is locked.
Step 4: Setting Up Emergency Contacts
Next, you need to set up your emergency contacts. From the ‘Medical ID’ page, scroll down to the ‘Emergency Contacts’ section and tap on ‘Add Emergency Contact’. This will present you with a list of your contacts. Select the ones who will receive messages about your emergency, including your location data. Tap ‘Done’ to confirm and then ‘Back’ to return to the Summary page.
Finally, go back to your iPhone’s Apple Watch app, open the ‘Emergency SOS’ screen, and enable the ‘Hold Side Button’ option to activate this feature during emergencies.
Activating Fall Detection on Your Apple Watch
Alongside Emergency SOS, one of the standout features of the Apple Watch is its fall detection technology. To activate this feature, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Access the Health App
Go back to the Health app on your iPhone and navigate to the summary page again.
Step 2: Enable Fall Detection
Scroll down to the ‘Fall Detection’ section within the ‘Emergency ID’ settings and turn on the switch if it is not already activated. Fall detection will automatically be triggered if the accelerometer in your watch detects a significant fall, alerting emergency services and your contacts if necessary.
Remember to sync your Apple Watch with your iPhone to ensure both devices are up-to-date and the fall detection feature works seamlessly.
Conclusion
Setting up the emergency features on your Apple Watch is a quick and straightforward process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure you are prepared in case of an emergency. Always keep your app and watch software updated for the best performance and security.