3 Ways Alexa can Help in an Emergency
Whether you’ve purchased an Amazon Alexa-enabled device for an older or disabled relative, or simply want the peace of mind knowing that help is easily and readily available in the event of an emergency, Alexa can help.
Amazon Alexa-enabled devices such as the Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Show cannot natively call 911 on their own, but landline owners can purchase an Echo Connect (about $35) to make and receive phone calls via Alexa, including calls to 911. The Echo Connect also allows 911 operators to determine the location the call originated from.
Our additional solutions remove the possibility of calling 911 directly via Alexa but will allow Alexa-enabled device owners to contact a network of caregivers or friends.
Alexa device owners can enable and configure the free “Ask My Buddy” Alexa skill to send emergency notifications to select contacts by saying “Alexa, ask my buddy to send help.”
Alexa users may also consider signing up for an IFTTT account to benefit from easy task automation. IFTTT (If This, Then That) scripts, or applets, allow devices that might otherwise be unable to communicate with one another, do so easily and for free. This IFTTT applet allows Alexa users to fill out a simple form and email an auto-populated “send help” message to up to 20 designated contacts when a trigger word is spoken to Alexa, for example, “Alexa, emergency.”
