Your Medical ID contains your valuable health information that first responders can access on your iPhone in emergencies. First responders can access your Medical ID from the emergency dialer without needing to unlock your iPhone. Usually, your Medical ID contains vital health information like blood group, allergies, and medical conditions, and having the correct information there can save your life.
To edit the Medical ID on your iPhone, open the Settings app. Scroll down and tap “Health”. Tap “Medical ID” to display all your health information. Tap “Edit” at the top right corner of the screen. It displays a window where you can edit vital health information such as your blood group, emergency contacts, allergies, etc. Tap “Done” to save the changes.
We will explain how to set up your Medical ID on your iPhone. We will also provide steps to edit the health information on your Medical ID and how you can access someone’s Medical ID on their iPhone as a first responder.
How To Set Up Your Medical ID on iPhone
The first time you open the Health app on your iPhone, you will be asked to provide your basic health information that will be made available to first responders in case of an emergency.
Follow the steps below to set up your Medical ID on your iPhone.
- Launch the Health app on your device.
- Tap the “Summary” tab.
- Tap the profile picture icon at the top right corner of your screen.
- Tap “Medical ID”.
- Tap “Get Started” to create your Medical ID.
- Fill out your basic information, including your first name, last name, date of birth, sex, height, and weight.
- Provide critical health information that can help first responders save you during emergencies. This information should include allergies and reactions, blood group, medications, medical conditions, and emergency contacts.
- Tap “Done” to save your health information.
The “Show When Locked” feature enables first responders to view your Medical ID when your iPhone is locked. The feature is turned on by default. Make sure it remains turned on; otherwise, anyone who doesn’t have your passcode will not be able to view this information, even in medical emergencies.
How To Edit Your Medical ID on iPhone
Your Medical ID is very important and could be the key to saving your life during emergencies, so you must ensure it contains your accurate health information. If you encounter an error you made while setting up your Medical ID, or you want to update your Medical ID with recent changes in your health status or emergency contacts, you can edit your Medical ID in a few simple steps.
Follow the steps below to edit your Medical ID.
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap “Health”.
- Tap “Medical ID”. This opens a page containing all your medical information.
- Tap “Edit” on the top right corner of the screen. This opens a window where you can edit your name, photo, blood group, allergies and reactions, medications, medical conditions, weight, height, and emergency contacts.
- To edit emergency contacts, scroll down to the “Emergency Contacts” section and tap the “+” button next to “Add Emergency Contact”.
- Tap a contact and add their relationship with you. You can also remove an emergency contact by tapping the “Delete” button next to the contact and tapping “Delete” to confirm the removal.
- Tap “Done” to update the changes.
How To Access a Medical ID on iPhone as a First Responder
As a first responder, anytime you are in a position to help someone in a medical emergency, you should access the Medical ID on their iPhone to be aware of all the necessary information. Suppose you are a health worker with knowledge of emergency treatment. In that case, the Medical ID lets you know the medication the victim is using, their allergies, and their blood group before attempting treatment.
Most importantly, it contains the emergency contact that the victim wants you to reach out to in that situation. Accessing the Medical ID on a locked iPhone is very straightforward, but the steps differ according to your iPhone type.
For iPhone 8 and Below
- Tap the home button to access the lock screen of your iPhone.
- Tap the “Emergency” button on the bottom left corner of your screen.
- At the bottom left corner of the Emergency keypad screen, tap the red Medical ID button to open the “Medical ID” page.
For iPhone 9 and Above
- Press and hold the side button and the upper volume button simultaneously.
- Swipe right across the Medical ID slider to open the Medical ID page.
Final Thoughts
Your Medical ID remains critical as long as your health information is accurate. Go through your Medical ID and edit any outdated or incorrect information. You can’t predict when you’ll be in a medical emergency, but you can ensure that you plan for it in the best way.
