How to use the 'In Case of Emergency' iPhone shortcut to get quick help from rescue services or a contact

• The third-party In Case of Emergency iPhone shortcut makes getting help in an emergency a single-button process.
• This iPhone shortcut lets you customize who you alert, and gives your location, condition, and more in an emergency.
• To use the In Case of Emergency iPhone shortcut, you'll need to have the Shortcuts app and an iPhone with iOS 12 or higher.

It's always important to be prepared, especially for emergencies. Apple helps iPhone users stay safe when unexpected events occur with built-in tools like Emergency SOS and emergency contacts.

But a third-party iPhone shortcut, In Case of Emergency, makes getting help even easier. It even lets you customize who you contact for help, making it quicker and easier for you to find the right person for each situation.

Available for devices with iOS 12 or later, this personalized emergency shortcut sets off a multi-step chain of alerts with just one tap.

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How the In Case of Emergency shortcut is different from Emergency SOS

When iPhone owners use the SOS tool, it's a multi-step process to activate all its services. Your device also automatically calls the local emergency number, which means that it essentially treats every emergency the same.

The In Case of Emergency shortcut dramatically cuts down those steps, creating a single button or voice-activated process. Unlike the Emergency SOS feature that appears when you power down an iPhone, the ICE shortcut can trigger multiple messages and instructions, customizable to anything from a deadly medical event to a car breakdown to an incident walking home alone.

This shortcut lets you text an emergency contact a pre-written message with your location followed by a text to the same or different contacts with specific instructions based on the type of event. It can also pull up a note on your phone's display for any bystanders or first responders that find you.

Another advantage of the shortcut is that it's discreet. If you're in a dangerous situation at home or in public, you can notify emergency contacts quickly via text instead of having an audible phone call that could put you at further risk.

If you're considering using the shortcut, here's how to set it up.

How to set up the In Case of Emergency shortcut on an iPhone

1. Tap your Shortcuts app to open it.

2. A menu of your existing shortcuts will appear. Tap "Gallery" on the bottom right.

   

3. Swipe through the top banner until you see "Shortcuts for Accessibility," then tap on it.

   

4. Select "In Case of Emergency."

   

5. On the intro page, scroll down and tap "Add Shortcut."
6. On the "Configure This Shortcut" screen, tap the "+" button on the right to find and add an emergency contact or more than one who will receive your first message along with your location.

7. Once finished, select "Continue."

   

8. Enter the message you'd like to send them, which they will receive with your exact location.

9. Choose "Done" followed by "Continue."

   

10. Now enter the same or a different set of contacts to receive your second message and select "Continue."
11. Enter the message with the instructions you'd like to send them. For example, how to take care of a pet or pick your child up from school. Then tap "Done" followed by "Continue."
12. Enter the message you want to have displayed on your phone's screen if someone comes to assist you. For example, consider if you have a medical condition they should know about or any advice on how to assist you in the event you're waiting for emergency services to arrive.

13. Once again, choose "Done."

    

14. A screen with a popup check-mark will come up, indicating the shortcut has been added.

15. Return to "My Shortcuts" and tap "In Case of Emergency" to activate it.

    

How to customize the In Case of Emergency shortcut on iPhone

To change and further customize this alert, you can tap the three dots at the top of the "In Case of Emergency" button. Once you do, you'll be taken to a list of the steps and features of the iPhone that they utilize.

Important: Ensure you've granted the shortcut access to your location and text messages.

This list of steps is highly customizable, allowing you to change your set contacts, texts, add the shortcut to your home screen from here, or even add and remove actions to the shortcut.