Better safe than sorry. These words may come true in the case of an accident and an emergency. Although no one expects the worst to happen to them, unfortunately, it is a possibility that everyone needs to be prepared for.
There is a huge difference in the case of an accident or an emergency if medical information and emergency contacts are provided to the first-aid responders. Some people may already have cards or documents that they carry with them or medic-alert bracelets; however, not everyone has such a bracelet unless it is absolutely necessary.
There is one thing that almost everyone carries with them every day. A mobile phone. Hopefully, you will never find yourself in a situation where you need to use this but if you are unconscious or unable to respond it is essential to have the feature ready that all smartphones have which stores any vital medical information about yourself and your emergency contact.
Each type of smartphone has this feature, however the set up varies depending on what type of smartphone you have Below you will find how to set up for each type of smartphone.
iPhone
The feature here is called Medical ID that can store information such as allergies or any prescription medication along with an emergency contact.
To set this up on the iPhone you need to do the following:
- Open the Health app and select Medical ID
- Create Medical ID or Edit if there is an existing one
- Enter any vital medical information
- Fill in the emergency contact details. At the bottom of the screen, you can provide details of their relation to you
It is also possible to use the iPhone SOS feature that sends a text message of your location to your emergency contact if triggered.
After you have set up your medical ID paramedics know how to find it. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to find someone’s information on an iPhone swipe up on the lock screen or if it’s an older iPhone, press the home button twice to bring up the prompt to enter a PIN code. Below on the keyboard, on the left side of the screen, an Emergency option will appear; tap it, followed by Medical ID.
Android (not Samsung)
- Open settings app
- Select about phone
- Select emergency information
- Fill in the relevant information about yourself.
If this route is not available on your phone, try locking your phone and swiping up the lock screen to display the pin or pattern to unlock your phone. From there you should be able to see an emergency or emergency call button. Via this, you should be taken to medical information which you can then add and edit.
Samsung
Samsung phones use contacts for medical information, to set this up you must do the following:
- Open contacts
- Select your name / contact
- Scroll to the bottom of your profile and you will find your emergency section
- Fill in any information regarding allergies and emergency contacts.
To view your information, swipe up on the lock screen and then select emergency call.
The above should cover how to set up emergency information and contacts on all smartphone devices. No one likes to think of worst-case scenarios, but it is essential to have emergency information ready as in some cases it should be the difference between life and death. Set up will take less than a few minutes and is something you will never regret setting up. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.
