iPhone Emergency SOS Feature Saves Woman From Sexual Assault

Smartphones take a lot of flak for consuming too much time, causing eye strain, contributing to traffic accidents and more. At least one woman, however, is crediting her iPhone’s Emergency SOS feature with saving her from sexual assault.

According to Norfolk, Virginia’s WTKR News, a woman—who wishes to remain anonymous—was attacked in Virginia Beach when a man approached her asking for help finding his lost phone. The man claimed to be in the military and she let him use her iPhone’s “Find My Phone” app to locate his.

She began to suspect something was amiss when the man didn’t seem to know how to use her iPhone. When she tried to leave, he attacked her. In the midst of the attack, the woman activated Emergency SOS, which automatically dials 911.

Emergency SOS can be activated by quickly pressing the power button five times, or by holding the power and volume button simultaneously. The woman used the latter method, and the 911 dispatcher listened to what was happening and dispatched the police.

As WTKR highlights, this “only works if the Emergency SOS feature is turned on in the phone’s settings.” This woman’s experience should be a good reminder to check those settings and enable Emergency SOS.