DCSO Highlight Emergency SOS Features To Avoid Accidental 911 Calls

(Juneau) Officials with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office encourage the public to stay on the line if they accidentally call 911. They add that it is much easier for their dispatchers to confirm that there is no emergency and to get all the needed information right away.

The agency is highlighting several settings on an iPhone’s Emergency SOS feature and how to set it up to avoid accidental dials. One is: Call with Hold.

If you press and hold the side and volume buttons, the “Emergency Slider” will appear. Authorities say if you continue to hold them, a countdown begins and an alert sounds. Once this countdown ends, the iPhone calls emergency services.

The other feature is: Call with Five Presses. Rapidly pressing the side button five times starts a countdown and sounds an alert. Once this countdown ends, emergency services is dialed.

Law enforcement noted that if these Emergency SOS features are turned on, it might be beneficial to also have the countdown sound on. They add that this will play a warning sound while Emergency SOS is counting down. Officials say this noise might help alert you to realize that you are about to accidentally call 911.

Photo courtesy of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page