I was amazed to learn how many patients are brought in to the ER and there’s no way of knowing who they are or how to contact their next of kin. And their phones are locked!
Many people don’t realize that you can set up something called a “Medical ID” on your iPhone if you have the “Health” app (free with phone). This information can be accessed even while the phone is locked by clicking on the emergency options and can display things like name, DOB, emergency contacts, medical conditions and even blood type and donor status. You can even add notes.
The Medical ID feature is built in to the new Health application found in iOS 8 and above. Users can configure it by launching Health, tapping the Medical ID menu in the bottom right, and then choosing “Create Medical ID.”
iPhone users with a passcode-locked handset can consider enabling the “Show When Locked” function, providing first responders or anyone else with emergency access to their Medical ID. Enabling this feature allows the Medical ID to be viewed by swiping the lock screen, tapping “Emergency,” and then viewing the digital information.
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