Paramedic reveals 'life changing' phone feature that can be vital in an emergency

Daily Record

5 days ago

A paramedic has shared an important message about a feature on your phone that could save your life in an emergency that can be set up in minutes
A paramedic has highlighted a crucial phone feature that could be a lifesaver in emergencies, yet she often finds it's overlooked by many. In today's world, our mobile phones are not just for communication; they serve as wallets, identification, photo albums, music players, and much more.
However, this reliance on smartphones means that in an emergency, people might not have physical ID, medication details, or emergency contact information readily available. That's why, even when your phone is locked, it can act as a critical lifeline.
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The paramedic, also a mother of two, is urging the public to take a few minutes to activate a setting that allows emergency responders to access medical details from the lock screen. She emphasises the simplicity of adding this information to your device and the importance of making it accessible during emergencies, reports Surrey Live.
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The emergency service professional, who recently posted a video on her TikTok account @MummyNeeNaw, 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 continued: "It takes a few minutes of your time and could make all the difference to you and your loved ones."
The paramedic elaborated: "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."
She mentioned that at an incident, as soon as possible, she will access the patient's phone to check their emergency information, which paramedics can do without needing to unlock the phone. It's simple to input details such as name, DOB, next of kin, medications, conditions, and allergies.
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She emphasised: "It could be potentially life changing if we know what is on that."
Instructions for setting up emergency info on iPhone
Navigate to Medical ID in your settings. You can locate this using the search function on your iPhone or by following Settings > Health > Medical ID.
If you haven't used the Health app recently, it might prompt you to complete a Health Checklist, which will also direct you to the Medical ID screen. On this screen, you'll see a series of red headings that allow you to add and edit information, so fill in as much detail as you wish to provide.
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Don't forget to press 'done' to save your information. You can also return and amend the information whenever you want.
If you're not on any medication and have no known allergies, you should write 'none' so medical professionals know you didn't just skip those questions.
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To access someone's medical information or check your own is set up, tap Emergency in the lower left corner when your phone is locked - and asks for a password - to make a dial pad appear. Tap Medical ID at the bottom left to display the emergency information.
Scroll down, and you can call anyone listed as an emergency contact by tapping on their phone number.
How to set up emergency info on Android
Many Android devices offer the option to add emergency contact information through the phone's settings or contacts app. The exact location of this feature depends on your specific phone and Android version.
Regardless, any person you wish to designate as an emergency contact must already be saved in your contacts app before you can assign them as such.
If you're in a position to help someone who uses an Android mobile, you can access their medical details and emergency contacts straight from the locked screen. Just swipe upwards, then choose Emergency > Emergency Information.