Where would we be without our cell phones? You can do everything on them these days! Pay bills, order food, get directions, make reservations, make videos, text friends and family, and make calls too.

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I found myself in a weird situation and wondered how many people were in the same boat as me. Winter means bulky jackets and additional layers of clothes. I had a set of keys in my jacket pocket, and while getting in my car, my phone started making a loud siren noise and vibrating.  When I finally got ahold of my phone, the screen was red, and it said emergency call in progress. How did I make a call when the phone is in a holster? Yes, a nerdy phone holster. Old habits are hard to break. Anyway, apparently while I was getting into my car, I managed to somehow push the SOS button on my cell phone. I immediately ended the call. What's the big deal? It was just a phone call and I did not need any assistance.

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Dispatcher

It wasn't even 30 seconds after I ended the call that the phone started ringing. The phone number on the display was a number I did not recognize. I answered and was greeted by a police dispatcher from the regional dispatch center. She said they were following up on a hang-up call, and wondering if I was okay. After I explained what happened, the dispatcher was very nice and understanding. They wanted some information and asked at least twice exactly where I was. After I gave them all the information they asked for, we ended the conversation, and I thought that was it.

It wasn't even 2 minutes and my phone was ringing again. This time around, it was a police officer calling to confirm things were ok, and that I indeed did not need anything. I explained what had happened, and we both laughed about it. After the embarrassment had passed, I thought about it a bit harder. I am glad we live with the technology we enjoy today, and that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. This tool did exactly what it was designed to do.

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If you have a cell phone, just be aware that it could have that SOS option. Mine is an android, and I now know what button(s) will make the SOS alert call. If you want to check your android, navigate to settings, tap safety and emergency, and then tap SOS messages. This is where you can turn it on or off. Apple users also have an option for SOS calls. I hope you find this information helpful, and it will make you more mindful of where your phone is!

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