Tech Top 5 Emergency Settings to Enable on Your Phone to Receive SOS Alerts from the Government News DeskMay 9, 20250132 views Top 5 Emergency Settings to Enable on Your Phone to Receive SOS Alerts from the Government Top 5 Emergency Settings to Enable on Your Phone to Receive SOS Alerts from the Government In the face of rising geopolitical tensions and unpredictable natural disasters, your smartphone can be a vital lifeline. Whether you’re navigating a crisis between nations or responding to local hazards, enabling real-time emergency notifications can help keep you safe and informed. This guide walks you through five essential emergency settings you should activate on your iPhone or Android device to receive SOS alerts, share critical medical information, and contact your loved ones during urgent situations. Enable Emergency Alerts from the Government Why it matters: These alerts notify you about severe weather warnings, public safety threats, or national emergencies—often before you hear them on the news. For iPhone (iOS 17 and later): Go to Settings > Notifications Scroll down to Government Alerts Toggle on Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts Note: These alerts override silent and Do Not Disturb modes. For Android (Android 11 and above): Open Settings > Search for Wireless Emergency Alerts Navigate to Safety & Emergency or Emergency Alerts Ensure the following are toggled ON: Extreme threats Severe threats Public safety alerts Allow alerts Alert sounds Override Do Not Disturb Pro Tip: The path may vary by manufacturer; use the settings search bar if needed. Set Up Medical ID or Medical Information Why it matters: First responders can access critical health information from your locked phone, potentially saving your life. On iPhone: Open the Health app Tap your profile > Medical ID Enable Show When Locked and Share During Emergency Call Add info: conditions, medications, blood type, emergency contacts Tap Done to save On Android: Go to Settings > Safety and Emergency Tap Medical Info Fill in necessary medical details and emergency contacts Save changes Download Offline Maps for Navigation Why it matters: Internet access may be disrupted during emergencies. Offline maps ensure you can navigate to safety. How to do it: Open the Google Maps app Search for your local area Tap on the location > Tap More > Select Download offline map Confirm the download Make sure you’re signed into your Google account and have internet during setup. Enable Emergency SOS and Emergency Sharing Why it matters: Automatically alert loved ones with your location, photos, or audio when you trigger an SOS. On Android: Go to Settings > Safety & Emergency Enable Emergency SOS Set up Emergency Sharing permissions On iPhone: Open Health > Tap your profile > Medical ID Add or edit Emergency Contacts Ensure your Medical ID is visible on the lock screen Emergency SOS may also trigger calls to local authorities depending on your country. Verify or Update the Emergency Number on Your Phone Why it matters: Ensure your device is configured to dial the correct emergency helpline instantly. How to check: Navigate to Settings > Emergency SOS Review the Emergency Number to Call setting Update if incorrect or missing In some devices, this option may be under Safety & Emergency settings. Bonus Tip: Practice a Safety Drill Once you’ve enabled all the above features: Test your SOS trigger mechanism (usually pressing the power button 5 times). Inform your emergency contacts how and when they may be alerted. Keep your device charged and carry a power bank. PS: The above steps may vary between manufacturer of phones