Apple’s new Health app that comes with iOS 8 allows users to conveniently store all their health-related information in a single app with the help of other apps that record various information about you. However, the Health app can also be used in an emergency and you can put important medical information on your lock screen in case of an emergency.
If you have a specific medical condition, you most likely carry a piece of paper in your wallet or a bracelet with important information on it. However, if you find yourself in an emergency and you’re unconscious, the Health app’s Medical ID feature can be used to give first responders some important information about you.
The Medical ID lets you list things like medical conditions, allergies, your weight and height, and even people to contact in an emergency. Setting this up and making it accessible from the lock screen can give first responders vital information about you if you’re unable to answer questions.
Health app aims to gather all your health related information from multiple apps in one easy to view and navigate app. For example, the Health app will collect my running data from Strava and my blood pressure from Qardio. The app puts all this information in an easy-to-view format in one convenient place.
It’s definitely an app that not everyone will use as not everyone benefits from workout apps and the like, but Health is a great addition to the iOS app family and the Medical ID feature is something many users can take advantage of. They do not actively use the health app.
Here’s how to set up a Medical ID in the Health app, which can save your life if you encounter an emergency.
Set up Medical ID in iOS 8
Even if you don’t think you won’t be using the Health app regularly in iOS 8, the Medical ID feature is still something you might want to consider setting up.
Opening the Health app and tapping the tab at the bottom right will open the feature and let you set it up. You will see a brief explanation of what a Medical ID is and what it does.
Tap on it to start here.
At the top there will be a toggle switch (Show When Locked) that will allow access to the Medical ID on the lock screen. Turning this feature on allows people to access your medical information even when the phone is locked. This can be a huge privacy concern, so be aware that the information you put in your Medical ID can be viewed by anyone who wants to see it.
Below the toggle is where to enter your medical information. You can include your date of birth and any medical conditions you have, as well as any other notes about your medical condition.
There is also a section that lists any allergies you may have and any medications you are currently taking.
Further down, there are sections where you can enter people to contact in an emergency, your blood type, weight, height and whether you are an organ donor.
After filling in the relevant information, tap in the upper right corner to save.
From now on, your Medical ID will be accessible from the lock screen by tapping on the icon in the bottom right corner and then tapping on it. From there, you can view the medical information for that user. Here’s what a user’s Medical ID will look like when you access it from the lock screen.
