Set Up Your Phone’s Emergency Medical ID

This is genuinely more useful in a real emergency than any downloadable card — because it shows up on your lock screen, without anyone needing to unlock your phone.

Why this matters

If you're ever unconscious or unable to speak, a stranger or paramedic can't get into a locked phone to find a saved photo or app. But both iPhone and Android have a built-in feature that shows your medical details directly on the lock screen — accessible with one tap, no password needed. It takes about 2 minutes to set up and could genuinely make a difference.

iPhone: Medical ID

1. Open the Health app
2. Tap your profile picture (top right) → Medical ID
3. Tap Edit, then fill in: blood type, allergies, medications, conditions, emergency contacts
4. Make sure "Show When Locked" is turned ON — this is the key step
5. Tap Done

To view it: on the lock screen, tap "Emergency" → "Medical ID" — no passcode needed.

Android: Emergency Information

Steps vary slightly by phone brand (Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.) but the general path is the same:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to About Phone (or Safety & Emergency on newer Android)
3. Tap Emergency Information or Medical Information
4. Add blood type, allergies, medications, conditions, and emergency contacts
5. Save

To view it: on the lock screen, swipe up and look for "Emergency Call" → "Emergency Information" — no unlock needed.

What to include

• Blood group
• Known allergies (medicines, food)
• Current medications
• Existing conditions (diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, etc.)
• At least one emergency contact with phone number
• Organ donor status, if relevant

One more good habit

Keep a small note in your wallet or bag with your blood group and one emergency number written on paper too — phones can run out of battery or get damaged, but paper doesn't.

This is a one-time, 2-minute setup that stays updated automatically as long as you edit it when your medications or contacts change. We recommend checking it every 6 months.