SOS app IOS and Android for NZ Emergancey ?

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rscole86

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#3400197 5-Aug-2025 18:23

Would creating a contact, who's number is 111, and then creating widget or shortcut that initiates the call meet your requirement?

Oblivian

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#3400214 5-Aug-2025 20:06

Emergency call is also available from the default lock screen on Android. Designed if you come across somebody and don't have your own.

It's a multifaceted approach currently. I'd have thought that anybody in an urgency position to not work out button presses or the number of etc would possibly be incapacitated enough to not draw on a further process to unlock, find additional icon/features that isn't already default?.

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#3400249 6-Aug-2025 06:54

Didn't know about the 5-presses option. That should be publicized.

In a variety of emergencies, you might not have vision, good motor control, be able to speak, or may be wearing gloves preventing use of the touchscreen - not just domestic violence.

I've been told on first aid courses that if you cannot speak (e.g. choking, no-one around), 111 will treat thud sounds next to the microphone as "I need immediate assistance". Best option is usually to find other people if at all possible, though. Apparently a rather large number of people discover they're choking, run off to the bathroom, and die there.

On another note, I've always been in favour of setting the phone to answer calls when a volume button is pressed and hang up on the power button. Helps when wearing gloves.

rscole86

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#3400256 6-Aug-2025 07:42

SomeoneSomewhere:

I've been told on first aid courses that if you cannot speak (e.g. choking, no-one around), 111 will treat thud sounds next to the microphone as "I need immediate assistance".

It's been a long time since I've been near a comms centre, or Spark's 111, but I don't recall anything about listening to thuds and treating that as needing immediate assistance.

Not sure how well a thud sound (so many different surface types and persons strength) would come through to the Spark operator.

alasta

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#3400266 6-Aug-2025 08:51

Asteros:

OP I believe you have Apple devices based on your post history. The Apple Watch can call 111 if it detects a fall or can be triggered manually by pushing and holding the crown.

https://support.apple.com/en-nz/108374

It's actually the side button, below the crown. I had to disable this feature on my watch as I've found that when I go open water swimming I've occasionally had the side button jammed in the depressed position due to grains of sand in the surrounds, hence the risk of calling emergency services unintended. For most people though it's a good feature to have enabled.

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#3400288 6-Aug-2025 09:54

alasta:

It's actually the side button, below the crown. I had to disable this feature on my watch as I've found that when I go open water swimming I've occasionally had the side button jammed in the depressed position due to grains of sand in the surrounds, hence the risk of calling emergency services unintended. For most people though it's a good feature to have enabled.

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#3400368 6-Aug-2025 14:45

Asteros:

OP I believe you have Apple devices based on your post history. The Apple Watch can call 111 if it detects a fall or can be triggered manually by pushing and holding the crown.

https://support.apple.com/en-nz/108374

And I can tell you it works! I think it said "we have detected a fall if you require emergency service ................

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gnfb

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#3400371 6-Aug-2025 14:48

rscole86:

Would creating a contact, who's number is 111, and then creating widget or shortcut that initiates the call meet your requirement?

hmm thats an idea but would still like to see an ap created for both android and ios I could likely do the android one but no real idea on the ios I was hoping somone had already "created the wheel"

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TwoSeven

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#3400408 6-Aug-2025 17:03

I can't remember with IOS but does the SOS feature update its number when abroad on a different network?

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Oblivian

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#3400410 6-Aug-2025 17:31

Add a hazard of a guess creating an app that could potentially call emergency service, good intent or otherwise presents liability shift scenarios

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#3400599 7-Aug-2025 11:05

TwoSeven:

I can't remember with IOS but does the SOS feature update its number when abroad on a different network?

That was also my concern with apple how did it know if i was in the uk or NZ

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alasta

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#3400600 7-Aug-2025 11:13

It probably dials 112 which is the standard international emergency number that was part of the GSM specification.

rscole86

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#3406516 22-Aug-2025 16:08

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=95&topicid=321499

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