A method and apparatus for providing emergency notification by a wireless mobile device in response to triggering a sensor that is remote from the mobile device. A detection system, which may be located within a vehicle, comprises one or more sensors configured to sense an emergency event and transmit a message via a wireless link regarding the emergency event. A wireless mobile device within short range of the transmitter receives the message via a short range receiver located therein and processes the message regarding the triggering of the sensor. For example, the wireless mobile device may be programmed to determine position information about the wireless transmitter and/or mobile device, call a predetermined emergency number such as E911, and transmit data including position and other information from the mobile device to the emergency number in response to the received message.