What a user will see when using Emergency SOS via Satellite with RapidSOS and video (Source: RapidSOS)
Apple’s forthcoming video expansion to Emergency SOS via Satellite for iOS 18 will now be supported by RapidSOS, a platform linking millions of users to 911 and other emergency services.
For iOS 18, however, Apple is greatly expanding the feature, so that it allows for longer messages — and even video. Now RapidSOS has announced support for this ability for a stranded user to be able to show first responders their condition and environment.
“[Emergency Communications Centers (ECC)] telecommunicators will be able to access Emergency SOS Live Video from within RapidSOS UNITE,” announced the company in a blog post. “This service will be at no cost to ECCs and available to the 5700+ ECCs who use RapidSOS UNITE core modules, which cover over 99 percent of the US population.”
The aim has been to get users help quicker, and by cutting down the steps required to find locations, to also reduce the chance for errors. With the new Live Video feature in Emergency SOS, first responders will be able to better assess any injuries a caller has, and see the terrain they are stranded in.
This should mean responders can much more quickly determine whether, for instance, the user will need to be air-lifted to hospital.
