Last month at the farmers market, my walking-group friend Evelyn fainted right next to the peach stand. One second she was holding up a peach to show me, and the next she was on the ground.
She came to within a minute, but she was confused and couldn't remember her daughter's phone number. The paramedic picked up Evelyn's iPhone and swiped to look for her medical information. There was nothing there. No emergency contact, no list of medicines, no mention of the blood thinner she takes. I stood there holding her purse, feeling helpless.
Evelyn is fine now, thank heavens. It turned out to be dehydration. But that night I went home and set up my own Medical ID, and then I made Bob do his. It took each of us about ten minutes.
What is Medical ID on iPhone?
Medical ID is a free feature built into the Health app on every iPhone. It lets you save important information, like your emergency contacts, medical conditions, allergies, medicines, and blood type, so it can be seen from the lock screen in an emergency without anyone needing your passcode.
You choose what goes in and whether it shows when your phone is locked. Apple's setup guide has the current steps and pictures.
How do I set up Medical ID?
Here are the steps in plain words. Open the Health app and tap your profile picture in the top corner. Tap Medical ID, then Get Started or Edit. Fill in your emergency contacts, medicines, allergies, and any medical conditions. Then turn on Show When Locked and tap Done.
To check your work, lock your phone, swipe to the emergency screen, and look for Medical ID. If you can see it, a paramedic can too.
What should I put in my Medical ID?
Keep it short and true. The most helpful things are your emergency contacts, any medicines that matter in an emergency, like blood thinners or insulin, serious allergies, and conditions like diabetes or a pacemaker. You don't need to fill in every box.
And please call the people you list. Ask them if they're willing to be your emergency contact and make sure the number is right. A name on a list is only helpful if the person picks up and knows why they're getting the call.
Is it safe to show my medical information on the lock screen?
In plain words: when Show When Locked is on, anyone holding your phone can see your Medical ID. So share what helps in an emergency, like emergency contacts, key medicines, serious allergies, and major conditions. Skip things a stranger doesn't need, like your Social Security number, Medicare number, insurance ID, and home address.
Medical ID doesn't guarantee a responder will look at your phone, so keep a small paper card in your wallet with the same basics. It works when your phone battery is dead. If you use an Android phone, look in your Settings for "Emergency information" or "Medical info" for the same kind of feature.
What I told my walking group
The next Tuesday, before our walk, six of us sat on the bench outside the library and set up Medical IDs together. Evelyn went first. She put her daughter at the top of her list and typed in her blood thinner, very slowly, and double-checked the spelling.
If you're getting ready for a doctor's appointment, it's a good time to update your medicine list too. I wrote about getting ready for your next doctor visit, and fainting is one more reason to read our guide on making your home safer from falls.
Take good care of yourself, and take even better care of each other.
Have you set up your Medical ID yet? Tell me in the comments, and tag a friend who should.
