iPhone Safety Tools: 6 Features You Should Know to Protect You

Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, but did you know that your iPhone is more than just a communication or entertainment tool? Apple, known for its strict privacy policies, has equipped its iPhone with advanced security features that can protect you in emergency situations. Whether you're in a dangerous situation or need to share your location with trusted individuals, these tools are designed to work for you. Let's review the top six safety features you should know about.

Emergency SOS: Quickly call for help

Emergency SOS is one of the most important safety tools on iPhone, allowing you to automatically call local emergency services based on your location. Whether you're in the US (911), the UK (999), or Europe (112), there's no need to know the local number—your iPhone takes care of it. Here's how to activate it:

◉ You can adjust the feature through the settings in the “Emergency SOS” section.

◉ Choose between two options to auto-connect by long pressing the side button along with the volume button, or quickly pressing the power button five times.

◉ If you are afraid of accidental connection, you can disable auto-connect and use swipe to connect manually.

important note

 Activating Emergency SOS locks your phone and requires you to enter your passcode instead of Face ID, protecting your data if you have to hand over your phone.

Medical ID: Your information is available to the ambulance

The Medical ID feature allows medical personnel to access your vital health information in an emergency, such as allergies, medications, and emergency contacts. Here's how to set it up:

◉ Open the Health app, tap your profile picture, then select “Medical ID.”

◉ Enter your data such as age, weight, height, blood type, and other medical conditions.

◉ This information can be accessed from the lock screen by tapping “Emergency” and then “Medical ID.”

This feature is especially useful if you are unconscious, as it can save your life by quickly providing necessary information.

Collision Detection: Protection While Driving

Starting with the iPhone 14, Apple added a collision detection feature that uses the gyroscope and accelerometer to detect car accidents. If the phone detects an accident, it automatically alerts emergency services. Here's how it works:

◉ The feature is enabled by default, but you can check it through Settings > Emergency SOS > “Call After Severe Crash.”

◉ When an accident is detected, the phone will issue an alert and start a countdown, allowing you to cancel the call if there isn't already an accident.

Despite some initial false alerts, such as while skiing or riding a carousel, Apple has significantly improved the accuracy of this feature.

Share the site: Reassurance of loved ones

With the Find My app, you can share your location with friends or family to ensure your safety. This feature is ideal for those who want to reassure their loved ones about their whereabouts. Here's how to use it:

◉Open the Find My app, tap the People tab, and choose a contact to share your location with.

◉ You can specify the duration of the post, for example, an hour, until the end of the day, or permanently.

◉ Make sure you only share your location with trusted people to maintain your privacy.

Check-in: Security on the go

The Check-In feature is ideal if you're on a short trip or walking at night. It allows you to share your location and expected destination with a specific person, with automatic notification if you don't arrive on time. Here's how to activate it:

◉ In the Messages app, select a conversation, tap “+,” then select “Check in.”

◉ You can set the feature to track a specific route or specify a specific time.

◉ If you don't respond to alerts, the other person receives data such as your recent location and your phone's battery status.

Safety Check: Review your privacy

The Safety Checkup feature allows you to review all of your phone's privacy settings, including who can access your location or data. Here's how to use it:

◉ Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Checkup.

◉Choose “Emergency reset” to stop all sharing immediately, or “Manage sharing and access” to review details.

◉ This feature is ideal for ensuring that your data is safe, especially in cases of tracking concerns.

Therefore, the iPhone is not just a smartphone; it's a powerful tool for keeping you safe. With features like Emergency SOS, Medical ID, and Check-In, Apple constantly offers innovative solutions to protect you in such critical situations. Just make sure you set up these features and use them wisely to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.

Source:

macrumors