Stroud, a 911 program manager in our Emergency Communication Networks (ECN) division, used her expertise and familiarity with new technology to make sure her mother could get help when she needed it, without losing her independence. Stroud purchased her mother a new smartphone and smartwatch with crash detection technology, because she knew that if her mother fell, it would work to get her the help she would need.

The technology really helped put Stroud's mind at ease. Here's how it works: When you're connected to a mobile network, Apple and Android systems can detect a crash or fall and call a public safety answering point (PSAP), more commonly known as 911 dispatch centers.

“It's really no different than if you had called 911. It's just the phone or watch doing the dialing for you," Stroud said.

If you are using additional location technologies, the technology can also send your GPS location to first responders, saving them precious time.

“It's not just relying on you to tell the person on the other end of the 911 call where you are; it's actually giving a much more precise location," Stroud said. “That is critical in a crash because a lot of times those crashes don't happen when you're close to an actual address, so first responders need that kind of pinpoint accuracy." 

This is why it's important to understand the different emergency alert options available and what information they can actually provide to 911. Some options don't provide a precise location of the person in distress, or they don't connect to 911 but to an intermediary call center.

If you're out in Greater Minnesota, in an area without connection to a mobile network, newer Apple phones can contact 911 using satellite technology. It will work even if you do not have crash detection turned on, but you need to be somewhere your device can reach the satellite signal.

For example, if you're hiking somewhere without regular phone service and you fall, you will get a screen that will tell you when the satellite will be within range and how to get optimal coverage. If you can't connect to a satellite immediately, your device will start to gather information that it can share with first responders. It will ask your name, your emergency and your phone number, then as soon as the satellite is within range, it will send that information to the correct PSAP.

The technology is still a work in progress and will sometimes call 911 when it isn't necessary. It's important to remember that if either you or this technology dial 911 by mistake, you need to stay on the line. Rather than hang up, tell the telecommunicator​ who answers that it was an accident, and you don't need help.