A paramedic has issued a stark warning to people, explaining that if you do not have this setting on your phone, you could be putting your life at risk in an emergency – and it only takes a few minutes to set up
A paramedic has revealed that a life-saving feature on your mobile phone is frequently overlooked and not set up by users. When heading out, it is typical for many to carry only their phone which now doubles as our lifeline – functioning as a communication tool, wallet, ID proof, photo storage, music player, and so much more.
However, in emergencies, the lack of physical ID, medical details or emergency contact information can be problematic. Therefore, even when your phone is locked, it could be vital in saving your life. The concerned paramedic and mum-of-two is urging everyone to take a few minutes to activate this crucial feature, which enables emergency services to access your medical information right from the lock screen.
She argues that setting up this easy and quick access to personal details is critical and stresses that everyone should learn how to locate such info in case of nearby emergencies.
The lifesaver, who took to her TikTok account @MummyNeeNaw to spread awareness, implored: “Just a little request. It’s something so many people don’t know about or don’t think to actually do but it could be incredibly important.”
She added: “It takes a few minutes of your time and could make all the difference to you and your loved ones.”
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The paramedic went on to explain: “How many times have you left the house with just your phone. Our bank cards are on our phone, our loyalty cards are on our phone, we will pop to the shops and we just have our phone on us, walk the dog, go to the gym, everything with just our phones.
“But it does mean, god forbid, anything should happen to you and we turn up…if you’re in a place where no one knows who you are, we also don’t know who you are – and I’ve been to a few [incidents] over the years, and I went to one yesterday where a gentlemen was very poorly and we didn’t know anything about him.”
Explaining how important this information can be at the scene of an emergency, she stated that if possible, she immediately tries to access the patient’s emergency info through their phone which can be done without needing to unlock the screen. You can add vital details like name, DOB, next of kin, medications, conditions, and allergies.
She emphasised: “It could be potentially life changing if we know what is on that.”
How to set up emergency info on iPhone
You’ll find Medical ID in your settings. Simply use the search function on your iPhone or navigate to Settings > Health > Medical ID to input your details.
If you haven’t used the Health app in a while, it might ask you to complete a Health Checklist, which will also direct you to the Medical ID screen. On the Medical ID screen, you’ll see a series of red headings that let you add and edit information, so fill in as much detail as you’re comfortable sharing.
Don’t forget to hit ‘done’ to save your entries. You can always return to edit the information whenever you want.
If you’re not on any medication and don’t have any known allergies, it’s best to write ‘none’ so medical staff know you didn’t just skip those sections.
To access someone else’s medical details or check your own setup, tap Emergency in the bottom left corner when your phone is locked – and asking for a password – to bring up a dial pad. Tap Medical ID at the bottom left to display the emergency information.
Scroll down, and you can ring anyone listed as an emergency contact by tapping their phone number.
How to set up emergency info on Android
Many Android devices allow you to add emergency contact details through the phone’s settings or contacts app. The exact location of this feature depends on your specific phone and Android version.
Generally, the process goes like this:
- Go to Setting and search for ’emergency’
- Here you should find an option labelled Emergency Information, or something similar. If you can’t locate it, try looking under My Info
- Typically, you will be presented with a form for medical information – fill these out accordingly
- Fill out the emergency contacts section – this can be located below all the fields or within your contacts app.
Regardless, anyone you want to designate as an emergency contact must already be saved in your contacts app before you can assign them as such.
If you are required to help an individual who possesses an Android mobile, you can retrieve their medical details and emergency contacts straight from the lock screen. Just swipe upwards, then choose Emergency > Emergency Information.