Janis Weber
Whether you have a full house or live alone, there’s a lot you can do to feel safer where you live.
Set up your iPhone for emergencies
Your phone is always with you and can be a lifeline in an emergency. A smart step is to activate the phone’s emergency SOS feature. When triggered, this will call emergency services and send notifications and updates to your chosen personal emergency contacts.
Set up emergency contacts for your iPhone
Open the Health app and tap your profile picture, then Medical ID. Select Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contacts. Tap the Add emergency contact button, then select a contact. Add their relationship and hit Done to confirm your changes.
To call emergency services: Press the side button and one of the volume buttons until the Emergency SOS slider pops up. To call emergency services, drag the slider. You can also continue holding the side and volume buttons to contact emergency services automatically. Once the countdown ends, your phone will contact emergency services.
Set up emergency contacts and SOS on your Android
Open the Safety app and sign into your Google Account. Tap Settings, then Medical information to add info like blood type, allergies, or medications. Tap the item in the list you want to update. Tap Emergency contacts, then Add contact and choose the existing contact you want to add.
Now you need to activate your Android’s SOS feature: In this same app, tap Safety & Emergency and then Emergency SOS. Turn on Use Emergency SOS. You can also turn on Play alarm sound to play a loud sound when Emergency SOS starts. Decide which emergency actions should trigger when you use Emergency SOS. Turn on the actions you want to use: Call emergency services and Share info with emergency contacts.
To call emergency services
Press the Power button five times or more. A five-second countdown begins before emergency actions are started. To cancel Emergency SOS, swipe Cancel to the right during the countdown. After the five-second countdown, emergency actions are started, depending on your settings.
I Make House Calls (I am fully vaccinated and masked if requested)
I will come to your home or office and help you with almost any predicament including repairs, upgrades, and personal software tutoring. I can be your resident “Geek.” I have an endless amount of patience and knowledge with years of experience. Give me a text or call at 419-290-3570. FYI, I will be holding classes at The Sylvania Senior Center this fall. Check their website for details.
Definition of The Day:
Smishing starts with a text message designed to put you on edge. You’ll see a message on your phone with language that makes you feel like your important accounts are in peril. For example, a message from a new number may say your debit card has been suspended. DO NOT TAKE ANY ACTION; just delete and report as spam if you have that option.
Janis Weber, B.A., owner of Ohio Computer Training & Support, is a professional computer adjunct instructor. E-mail any specific questions or comments to JwPCtutor@Gmail.com or contact her for assistance at 419-290-3570. Private tutoring and repairs are just a phone call, text, or email away.