As your Secretary I would like to use my voice to provide my fellow sisters with helpful hints for a rapidly changing world.

Did you know your phone also was an emergency notification tool?

SOS – Emergency alert. I have looked at Samsung and Apple. This information is available online for all devices and systems. I have used it, and it works very well in the US (the blue article discusses innovations in South Africa!

Did you know that on a Samsung phone, an SOS can be triggered when you click the power button three or four times? Your emergency contacts will receive an SOS message, links to a map and the audio clip, photos and auto call (if those features have been activated).

To set up the SOS feature on a Samsung phone, follow these steps12345:

1. Pull down your notification bar and open "Settings."

2. Scroll down and select "Safety and emergency."

3. Select "Send SOS messages."

4. Toggle it on and choose your emergency contacts.

5. Choose if you want the SOS triggered by pressing the side button three or four times.

6. Select what you want your phone to do when you trigger the SOS.

This is useful if you are attacked, in fear of your life, if you are lost, or if you are being approached by people who give you reason to be concerned (including

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Good to Know: In addition (as of May 1, 2025):

Samsung has launched a free-to-use emergency subscription service called SOS+, exclusive to its Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 devices as part of a partnership with Aura for South Africa.

Built into the Samsung device, the SOS+ service uses geolocation technology to give users immediate access to security and medical services regardless of location. “Samsung isn’t just offering a service, we’re embedding access to safety directly into the everyday lives of our customers,” it said. “Samsung’s SOS+ is designed for instinctive use; it’s accessible with just one tap from the In Case of Emergency contact list, and there are multiple ways to access the service.”

The tech giant noted that only 17% of South Africans can access private ambulances through private aid schemes. It added that less than 13% have access to private security services, with this number falling to 1.2% in the country’s poorest communities. However, Samsung said it aims to change this by making emergency support more accessible in South Africa.

By dialling a toll-free number, an alert shares the user’s live location with Aura’s secure platform. The service can also be accessed via its app, SMS, or website with data-free functionality. Aura then dispatches its closest vetted medical or armed response service from its nationwide network of over 3,500 professionals, said Samsung. Those in distress also have the ability to track the arrival of the emergency services in real time using the app.

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This is useful if you are attacked, in fear of your life, if you are lost, or if you are being approached by people who give you reason to be concerned (including immigration agents for example, when you cannot pull your phone to make a call but must hand it over).

Further ( to turn setting on/off or to modify countdown feature)

1. Open Settings.

2. Tap Safety and emergency.

3. Tap Emergency SOS.

4. Tap the switch button to turn Emergency SOS on or off. Or to change the emergency countdown feature.

On an Apple:

How does Apple emergency contact work? Apple's Emergency SOS feature, when activated on iPhone or Apple Watch, automatically dials the local emergency number (e.g., 911 in the US) and shares your location with emergency services. It also alerts your emergency contacts with a text message containing your location and provides ongoing location updates. You can access this feature by pressing and holding the side button and either volume button on iPhone or the side button on Apple Watch.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. How it Works:

• Emergency Call: When you activate Emergency SOS, your device automatically dials the local emergency number.
• Location Sharing: Your location is shared with emergency services, allowing them to locate you quickly.
• Emergency Contact Notification: After the call ends, your emergency contacts are alerted via text message.
• Location Updates: Your emergency contacts receive ongoing location updates for a period after you've initiated the SOS.

2. Setting Up Emergency Contacts:

• Health App: Go to the Health app on your iPhone and tap on your profile picture.
• Medical ID: Tap on Medical ID, then tap Edit and scroll down to Emergency Contacts.
• Add Contacts: Tap the "+" button to add emergency contacts. You can add up to 25 people.

Edit and Save: Make any necessary edits, then tap Done to save your changes.

3. Using Emergency SOS:

iPhone: Opens in new tab Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the "Emergency SOS" slider appears. Drag the slider or continue holding the buttons until the countdown ends, and the call is initiated.

Apple Watch: Opens in new tab Press and hold the side button until the Emergency Call slider appears. Drag the slider or continue holding the side button until the countdown ends, and the call is initiated.

4. Additional Features:

Emergency SOS via Satellite: Opens in new tab On iPhone 14 and later models, you can use Emergency SOS to text emergency services when you're out of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, according to Apple Support.

Sharing Medical ID: Opens in new tab You can choose to share your Medical ID information with emergency services when you call 911 or use Emergency SOS.

Emergency Contacts on Lock Screen: Opens in new tab Emergency contacts can be viewed on your iPhone's lock screen, even if the phone is locked.

My email – secretary@nfbpwc.org is always open!

Thank you!

Nermin K. Ahmad NFBPWC
Secretary
2024-2026