Learn how to set up and use the Medical Information feature on your Android phone, which is similar to Apple’s Medical ID on the iPhone.
Apple’s Medical ID and Android’s Medical Information contain your name, date of birth, address, blood type, height, weight, allergies, ongoing medications, medical notes, and your pregnancy and organ donor statuses. They also list your emergency contacts; that is, the phone numbers of designated family members and close friends. This information can be viewed even on a locked phone, allowing emergency responders to access crucial medical data.
Why use Medical Information on Android
God forbid, but if you ever get into any kind of an accident, faint during a hike, or become unconscious, bystanders and first aid responders can use your Medical Information to help you better. An emergency responder can see your blood type and arrange it accordingly. And based on other stuff on Medical Information, like your age, allergies, medication, and medical notes, emergency responders can help you without worrying about side effects and the potency of the medicines.
Set up Medical Information on your Android phone
You can set up your Medical Information in settings on your Android phone. Otherwise, you may need to download Google’s free Personal Safety app from the Play Store. Your Medical Information data is stored locally on your device to ensure privacy and safety.
Open the Settings app on your Android phone, scroll down, and tap Safety & emergency. Now choose Medical Information at the top, hit More to expand the options, and fill out as many fields as possible with correct information.
Allow lockscreen access to Medical Information
After completing your Medical Information, tap the “Change Setting” button and make sure “Show when locked” is on. You can also turn on “Share during emergency call” to automatically share your medical info on emergency calls (if supported in your city/country/region).
You can also get to these settings by searching for “Emergency info access” in the Settings app or tapping “Open Personal Safety” and then going to Your Info > Emergency Info Access.
Set up emergency contacts on your Android phone
With your Medical Information complete, return to the Safety & Emergency pane of the Settings app and tap Emergency Contacts, then tap Add Contact, and select a trusted contact like a family member, close friend, personal nurse, or similar. You can add multiple emergency contacts and use the “Reorder” option to rearrange their position.
How to access someone’s Medical Information on Android
This information is primarily meant for those around you when you need help, but anyone should know it to assist others effectively. Wake up a locked Android phone and swipe up to access the authentication screen, then hit the Emergency Call button. Now, touch the first aid icon and swipe from left to right to access this phone’s emergency info.
Android, much like iOS, has other emergency features that you should check and enable. Go to Settings > Safety & Emergency and turn on features like Emergency SOS, Emergency Location Service, Earthquake alerts, Crisis alerts (to stay informed of natural disasters and public emergencies in your area), and Wireless emergency alerts (AMBER alerts). You’ll also find these in Google’s Personal Safety app.
If you use both iOS and Android, whose implementation is better, do you think? Apple’s Medical ID or Google’s Medical Information? Sound off in the comments below.
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