People are so engulfed in their phones these days we often perceive it to be a bad thing. While they do disconnect us from each other, set unrealistic standards, and involve everyone in everyone else’s business, there is actually one great thing to come from a smartphone.
Smartphones are great in the event of a catastrophe. They give us instant news, and you can reach your loved ones by a simple tap of a button in seconds. It also gives us the ability to receive help right away when we need it – and it’s not just 911 or 999 either.
There is a new feature available for all iphone users and it is incredibly useful in the case of an emergency. It is called Medical ID and it’s free too! It allows people to share vital information with medical staff so that they can treat you accordingly.
Julia Thompson is a nurse that has shed light upon the importance of this amazing iphone feature. She posted to facebook telling everyone how much they really need to set this setting up because it can literally make a life or death difference.
She says, “Working in a public hospital and seeing patients in ER all the time, I see many patients come in and we have had no way of knowing who they are, or how to contact their next of kin, or their medical history! And their phones are locked!
But 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). I didn’t even realize this when I got my own iPhone!
This information can be accessed even while the phone is locked by clicking on the emergency options and can display things like name, date of birth, emergency contacts, medical conditions and even blood type and donor status. You can even add notes!
I believe Android [users] have an app called ICE (‘in case of emergency’) that works similarly….”
If you want to set up this extremely beneficial setting on your iPhone, all you have to do is follow the steps below.
Here’s how you can create your very own Medical ID on an iPhone:
1. Turn on your iPhone by pressing the “Power” or “Home” button
2. Find the “Health” app on your iPhone home screen
3. Once the app opens, tap on “Medical ID” option in the bottom right-hand corner
4. Select the “Edit” option
5. Fill out relevant medical information
Important: Turn on “Show When Locked” slider
6. Tap “Done” when the information is complete
The feature makes it to where all of your important information is displayed for first responders and medical staff to see before they treat you. Once you have it set up, there is an emergency option on the phone’s lock screen. Tap that, and it will show all of your medical information for first responders to see.
This is a life or death hack, and everyone should have it enabled. If you have allergies or any other kind of disorder it is the perfect way to let the medics know when you are unconscious – because you never know when you might be.