According to a report from New York Timessurvivors of the catastrophic avalanche near Lake Tahoe this week used Emergency SOS via satellite on iPhones to stay in touch with first responders.
It’s the latest example of the life-saving impact of Apple’s Emergency SOS and satellite features on iPhone and Apple Watch.
Emergency SOS via satellite on iPhone and Apple Watch
Don O’Keefe, Chief of Law Enforcement for the California Office of Emergency Services, says the six avalanche survivors used Emergency SOS via satellite to stay in touch with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
“One of my staff was communicating with one of the guides over a four-hour period, giving information to the Nevada sheriff’s office and coordinating what rescues could be allowed,” O’Keefe told the press Wednesday. The skiers were part of a group of 15 on a multi-day trip through the Sierra Nevada mountains. While six survived, eight were killed. One person is still missing and presumed dead, according to CNN.
Emergency SOS via satellite is supported on iPhone 14 or later, as well as on Apple Watch Ultra 3. The feature is triggered when a user has no cellular or Wi-Fi connection and tries to contact emergency services.
The user is then presented with a questionnaire that collects information about their emergency. Their iPhone will guide them through the process of where to point their iPhone or Apple Watch to connect to a satellite. The feature is free for two years after activating an iPhone 14 or newer or Apple Watch Ultra 3.
The satellite connection on the iPhone and Apple Watch can also be used to send iMessages and SMS messages, as well as share location through Find My.
We’ve seen countless examples of emergency SOS via satellite function saving lives over the past few years:
Apple has one detailed supporting document how to use satellite connectivity features on iPhone and Apple Watch. I recommend reading it and trying out the demo feature in the Settings app. You never know when you might need these features.
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