{"id":72575,"date":"2021-03-23T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=72575"},"modified":"2021-03-19T15:26:46","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T20:26:46","slug":"medical-id-and-emergency-sos-iphone-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/72575-medical-id-and-emergency-sos-iphone-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Safe: Medical ID and Emergency SOS on iPhone and Apple Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you have your iPhone or Apple Watch set up to provide first responders with critical information in case of an emergency? Medical ID has been a feature of iOS for many years, but it\u2019s still not used by many people \u2014 either iPhone owners or first responders. In today\u2019s article, I\u2019ll show you how to set up Medical ID<\/strong> on your iPhone. I\u2019ll also give a quick lesson on finding Medical ID and Emergency SOS<\/strong> on a locked iPhone or Apple Watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Setup of iPhone Medical ID<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Profile<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Medical ID<\/strong> information is captured in the Health app of your iPhone. Launch the Health app, and tap the Summary tab. At the upper right corner of the screen is your profile picture \u2014 either a photo you\u2019ve entered or the generic icon seen at right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tap the profile picture. Near the top of the page is a button for Medical ID. Tap it, then tap Edit in the upper-right corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a>
The Health App Medical ID Edit Screen<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You can enter as much or as little information as you wish. If you have any medical conditions, allergies, or get reactions to certain drugs, those should be listed. It\u2019s also wise to list any medications you take, both the amount and how many times a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other items such as blood type, weight, and height are useful. If you\u2019re an organ donor or wish to be, that information should be entered. You can also register with the U.S.\u00a0Donate Life<\/a>\u00a0donor network through the Medical ID page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emergency Contacts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wouldn\u2019t you want your loved ones or friends to know if you had been in an accident or had a health issue? Be sure to list at least one (and preferably more) emergency contact on the Medical ID screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you use the Emergency SOS feature of the iPhone or Apple Watch to call emergency services, emergency services and the persons listed as contacts receive a text message noting that you\u2019ve been involved in an emergency. That message also includes location information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set Up Emergency Access<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The emergency information you\u2019ve entered won\u2019t do much good if you do not allow first responders to see it. Under the Emergency Access section of the edit screen, be sure to enable Show When Locked<\/strong> and Share During Emergency Call<\/strong> by tapping the button to turn it green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show When Locked allows first responders to use the method described later in this post to view your medical info, while Share During Emergency Call shares your Medical ID if you call emergency services (911 in the United States).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Viewing Medical ID on an iPhone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say that you come across a person who has fallen and is not responding. If you have access to their iPhone, try to unlock it and you\u2019ll see an Emergency button at the lower left of the passcode screen (highlighted in the image below). Tap it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Even<\/a>
Even when you can’t unlock an iPhone, the Emergency button provides access to Medical ID<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This takes you to the Emergency Call<\/strong> screen, which can be used to call 911. At the lower left of the dial pad is a red Medical ID button (see image below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tap<\/a>
Tap the Medical ID button to view the Medical ID<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tap the Medical ID button to view the Medical ID (information redacted\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Medical<\/a>
Medical ID on a locked iPhone<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Viewing Medical ID on an Apple Watch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The same information can be viewed on an Apple Watch. Press and hold the side button (not the Digital Crown, but the flat button) and three sliders appear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Press<\/a>
Press and hold the side button to view these sliders<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Swipe the Medical ID button to the right to view the Medical ID screen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Medical<\/a>
Medical ID on an iPhone (info redacted)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Emergency SOS on iPhone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Need to send an emergency call automatically? On an iPhone 8 or later, hold down the side (power\/sleep) button and one of the Volume buttons until the Power Off, Medical ID, and Emergency SOS sliders appears on the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For an iPhone 7 or earlier, rapidly press the side or top (power\/sleep) button five times to make the sliders appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now drag the Emergency SOS slider to the right. The iPhone makes an emergency phone call and sends a notification to your emergency contacts as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On iPhone 8 or later, continuing to hold down the side and Volume button counts down and makes the emergency call without having to drag the Emergency SOS slider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Emergency SOS on Apple Watch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sending an Emergency SOS on an Apple Watch is quite easy. Hold down the side button for about three seconds until the three sliders (see Viewing Medical ID on an Apple Watch above) appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slide the Emergency SOS slider to the right to have the Watch automatically call emergency services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Medical ID is an important thing to set up on your iPhone. Doing so could save a life! It’s also useful to know how to access someone else’s Medical ID and send an Emergency SOS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be a lifesaver and set up Medical ID for a friend or relative, and show them how to use Emergency SOS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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