Hack of the day: How to save emergency info on your phone’s lock screen

Most of us carry our phones everywhere, which makes them the most logical place to store information that could save our lives in an emergency. The problem is that a locked phone, while secure, is also a closed door for anyone trying to help you when you cannot help yourself.

A first responder, a bystander, or a stranger who finds you after an accident cannot call your family, does not know your blood group, and has no idea whether you are allergic to a medication they might be about to administer.Your phone already has a solution built into it. It takes about five minutes to set up, requires no third-party app, and makes critical information visible on your lock screen without compromising the security of everything else on your device.

Where to find it on your phone

On Android smartphones, go to Settings and look for the option of Emergency information or Safety and Emergency. The Samsung smartphone users the option appears under Settings and then Safety and Emergency. Whereas, on Google Pixel smartphones you need to open the Phone app, then tap on the three dot menu and look for Help and Emergency Information, or find it directly in Settings under About Phone. The iPhone users can open the Health app and tap on your profile picture and then select Medical ID.

After this, enable the option which says Show When Locked, and your Medical ID will be accessible from the lock screen by tapping Emergency and then Medical ID.

What to add

Start with two emergency contacts, ideally people who are reliably reachable and know your medical history. A spouse or partner is the obvious first choice, followed by a parent, sibling, or close friend. Make sure the names and numbers are current. An emergency contact list with an old number is worse than useless, because a rescuer may waste critical time trying to reach someone unreachable while the right person goes uncalled.Then add your medical information. Blood group is the most important single entry, as it is the first thing emergency medical staff need to know if a transfusion becomes necessary. After that, list any allergies, particularly to medications, anaesthesia, or common substances like penicillin or aspirin. Note any chronic conditions that a first responder would need to know about, such as diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, or asthma.

If you take regular medication that would interact badly with emergency treatment, include that too. Keep it brief and factual. This is not a medical history, it is a quick-reference card.

Enabling lock screen access

Once you have filled in your emergency details, make sure the setting that allows access without unlocking the phone is turned on. On Android, this is usually a toggle within the Emergency Information screen itself. On iPhone, it is the Show When Locked toggle in Medical ID.

Without enabling this step, the information exists in your phone but is hidden behind your passcode, which defeats the entire purpose.Test it immediately after setting it up. Lock your phone, then try to access the emergency information as a stranger would. On Android, look for the Emergency option on the lock screen, which typically appears on the keypad screen. On iPhone, tap Emergency from the lock screen passcode entry screen, then tap Medical ID in the bottom left corner.

If you can see your blood group, contacts, and medical notes without entering your PIN, the setup is working correctly.

One important boundary

Emergency information on a lock screen is visible to anyone who picks up your phone. Keep the entries to what is genuinely medically relevant and necessary. Your blood group, allergies, and emergency contacts are appropriate. Your home address, insurance details, ID numbers, or financial information are not. The goal is to give a first responder what they need to help you quickly, not to create a security risk.Five minutes of setup today could give a stranger exactly the information they need to make the right call on your behalf when you cannot make it yourself. It is one of the most practical things you can do with your phone this week.