1. When speaking on the phone on Shabbat in cases of pikuach nefesh, one should try to press the buttons in an unusual manner, such as with the back of one’s hands or elbows, or even with two hands together (Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchatah 32:40-42). This is true both when using a landline and when using a cellphone.

2. Once the call has begun, one need not reduce the number of words spoken and may speak normally (since no melachah is directly taking place while talking normally). However, one should not discuss matters that are totally irrelevant to the conversation (ibid.). When concluding the call, one should not hang up unless one will need the phone again on Shabbat or is expecting a call back from someone else related to the situation, since that would be an unnecessary violation of Shabbat (ibid.).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.