Three friends had an accident on the highway. They were all unconscious. A passerby rushed to help. There were six smartphones in the car...
Three friends had an accident on the highway. They were all unconscious.
A passerby rushed to help. There were six smartphones in the car — but every single one was locked with Face ID and passcodes. The rescuer couldn’t unlock them to dial for help, nor access their emergency contacts. By the time help arrived, it was too late.
In another case, a pregnant woman collapsed at home. Her little daughter, panicked, grabbed her mother’s smartphone to call her father. But the phone had a password, and she couldn’t get past the lock screen.
Tragically, the mother lost her life before help arrived.
So, whose fault is it?
We live in a digital age where phones have become lifelines. But the truth is: the way we set them up could decide life or death.
My advice is this:
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Every smartphone has an Emergency SOS / Emergency Call option on the lock screen. Learn it. Teach it to your kids and family.
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Add your ICE (In Case of Emergency) contacts in your phone settings. On iPhone, it’s in the Health app → Medical ID. On Android, it’s under Safety & Emergency. These can be accessed without unlocking your phone.
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Store important health info like allergies, blood group, or chronic conditions in the emergency/medical ID.
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Share your home Wi-Fi password and important emergency numbers (ambulance, police, family) with trusted family members.
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If you still prefer heavy security, use app-lockers for WhatsApp, photos, and files — but leave the emergency calling option free.
💡 Key takeaway: The password on your phone should never be a barrier between you and saving a life. Configure your device smartly — so it protects your privacy and allows others to call for help when you cannot.
