With Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice assistants embedded into so many smart home devices now, being able to leverage digital voice assistants to call for emergency help is an important consideration. After all, if you’re suddenly in a situation where you can’t dial 911 directly, simply yelling out an emergency command to a nearby hands-free AI voice assistant could prove lifesaving. So can Alexa actually call emergency services when needed to quickly dispatch aid?
In short, while Alexa itself does not directly contact first responders, it does allow you to use voice commands to call any emergency number pre-defined in your Alexa contacts list or on your connected mobile device. Let’s explore the key ways how Alexa can facilitate calling 911 or emergency services in any situation that demands urgent medical, fire or police assistance.
Ways Alexa Helps Call 911
While Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant lacks direct cellular connectivity to dial emergency services itself, it does offer several capabilities empowering users to call 911 hands-free using just voice commands:
Drop-In Calling
Beyond regular hands-free calling between individuals, Alexa’s “Drop-In” function establishes a two-way intercom connection that doesn’t require the recipient to answer. If you’ve authorized Drop-ins with someone whose phone is on the same network and set up as an emergency contact, an Alexa “Drop-In” command will ring through as an intercom call, enabling immediate crisis communication.
Contacts Dialing
For true emergency contact, Alexa allows you to use voice commands to call any number stored in your Alexa contacts or mobile device paired via Bluetooth. Pre-program important emergency contacts under your Alexa connections for easy, hands-free dialing during crises. Just say “Alexa, call 911”.
Fall Detection Response
Some Alexa devices like Echo smart speakers integrate fall detection that automatically checks if you need assistance after hearing sounds of a potential fall. Alexa will call pre-defined emergency contacts directly if you remain unresponsive to its inquiries.
Remote Commands
Even when away from your own Alexa devices, if another Alexa is available on the same network, you can command it remotely by voice to “Call 911” or “Call emergency services” to dial those key contacts from any room during emergencies.
Emergency Care Skills
While not actual emergency calling, First Aid and EMT skills provide emergency care guidance hands-free after accidents, administering CPR instructions, reminding users of critical first response steps during medical crises until professional help can arrive. These assist remotely when emergency services are unreachable temporarily.
How to Set Up Alexa Emergency Calling
Since Alexa requires pre-defined emergency shortcuts and permissions configured ahead of time for 911 access hands-free, here are key steps to set up emergency calling properly:
1. Open the Alexa app and add 911 or your local emergency services number as a named contact.
2. Enable either Drop-In permissions or Bluetooth access so Alexa can dial those contacts on paired smartphones.
3. Add ICE (In Case of Emergency) contacts as Alexa contacts too to enable verbal emergency commands.
4. Ensure any household members likely to use Alexa assist during emergencies have access permissions and awareness that Alexa can call for help this way when urgently needed hands-free.
5. Consider posting Alexa voice commands for emergency calling prominently, account for visitors unfamiliar with smart homes to leverage Alexa during crises as well.
Alexa Makes SOS Easy
Having an Alexa smart speaker or smart display strategically placed enables anyone to call for help urgently during home crises just using their voice. Hands-free emergency contact proves invaluable for those unable to reach phones directly especially common during falls and sudden medical events.
Just yell “Alexa, call 911” or summon emergency contacts by name to have Alexa dial designated numbers automatically on paired phones. That hands-free voice activated emergency calling can prove absolutely vital until professional first responders ultimately arrive. So leverage Alexa’s voice-enabled connectivity to keep your household safer and enable emergency help easily.
