Emergency fall services - how do First Responders get into my house?

If I have a house lock with a keypad, is there a place to enter the keypad number somewhere in the fall detection app so the responders can get in?


iPhone 6, iOS 10

Posted on Jun 20, 2024 9:42 AM

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Posted on Jun 20, 2024 9:53 AM

In my experience, First Responders generally won’t waste time with locks and keypads. They have a tool that literally just pops the door open. If you have a chain on the door they use a bolt cutter that cuts right through it. If this is a concern, I’d discuss it with your nearest fire station and get confirmation from the men and ladies that would actually be there to assist you.

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Jun 20, 2024 9:53 AM in response to wentworthwoman

In my experience, First Responders generally won’t waste time with locks and keypads. They have a tool that literally just pops the door open. If you have a chain on the door they use a bolt cutter that cuts right through it. If this is a concern, I’d discuss it with your nearest fire station and get confirmation from the men and ladies that would actually be there to assist you.

Jun 20, 2024 6:43 PM in response to wentworthwoman

There is a Medical ID section in the Health app on your iPhone. At the bottom of the Medical ID is a section for Notes. You could put your door code there. "When you set up your Medical ID in the Health app on your iPhone, that information is also available on your Apple Watch. If you share your Medical ID, the information in your Medical ID can be shared automatically during an emergency call in the U.S. and Canada."


Set up and view your Medical ID - Apple Support

Set up and view your Medical ID on Apple Watch - Apple Support


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Jun 21, 2024 7:34 AM in response to Jeff Donald

I went to my nearest Minneapolis fire station and could not get in! I decided to go to the lock and key store near my home because I figured they would be fixing doors and locks if this were true - and they said that, indeed, when ERs arrive at the house they want to get in and do whatever it takes to achieve that - which is a good thing. So that is likely what would happen. I think my best option is to put a passcode in my medical info as others below suggested and hope it can get communicated before they get there. Two of the people that I have set up to get notified when my system is activated live very near me and I will ask them to come to my house with the key to my house that they already have and possibly get there before the ERs would arrive. Thank you, Jeff, for setting me down this path of thinking this through.


Jun 21, 2024 7:50 AM in response to Dah•veed

Dah-veed, thanks for providing those links. I will put the code into the notes and hope that they get communicated if the system is triggered or hope that my contacts show up with the key or be prepared to fix my door that the First Responders destroy in order to help me. It has been very helpful to think it through and know that I have done the best I can to set it up well and accept it will play out however it does. One of the lessons of getting old.

Jun 21, 2024 9:37 AM in response to wentworthwoman

You’re welcome.


I’ve several friends that are firemen and I’ve seen this tool in action. It literally pops the door open and the door and frame are not damaged (a little scratched though). Hopefully you won’t need it, but when they arrive, their first concern is you and not the door or frame. When seconds can make a difference between life and death, the door is not their first concern.


I hope you have a great weekend!



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Emergency fall services - how do First Responders get into my house?

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