Are Your Healthcare Agents also Emergency Contacts in Your Phone?

We routinely advise our friends to add their Healthcare Agents as emergency contacts in their cell phones. Having emergency contacts easily accessible on your phone can be a great time saver in a crisis. Whether you’re involved in an accident, feeling unwell, or facing an unexpected emergency, having trusted people who can be reached quickly can make all the difference. 

Fortunately, both iPhones and Android phones offer features to set up emergency contacts. Continue reading for some helpful tips on how to add your Healthcare Agents to your phone.

Setting Up Emergency Contacts on an iPhone

On an iPhone, you can add emergency contacts through the Health app and ensure they are available for emergency situations, even when your phone is locked.

1. Open the Health app. Start by opening the Health app, which is pre-installed on your iPhone. If you can’t find it, swipe down on the home screen and search for “Health.”
2. Access the Medical ID. In the Health app, tap the Profile icon (top-right corner). Then, tap Medical ID. This section stores essential health information and emergency contact details. If you haven’t set up a Medical ID yet, tap Create Medical ID to begin. 
3. Add Emergency Contacts. Scroll down to the Emergency Contacts section, and tap Add Emergency Contact. You can choose contacts from your contact list. Once you select a contact, you can assign them a relationship (e.g., spouse, parent, friend). 
4. Enable Emergency Access. Make sure the toggle for Show When Locked is turned on. This ensures that your emergency contacts and key medical information are accessible even when the phone is locked.
5. Save Your Information. Once you’ve added your emergency contacts, tap Done to save the changes. Now, if the situations arises, anyone can access your Medical ID and contact your Medical Agents directly from your Lock Screen by tapping Emergency and then Medical ID.

Setting Up Emergency Contacts on an Android Phone

For Android devices, the process may vary slightly depending on your phone’s brand and Android version. However, most Android phones allow you to add emergency contacts through the Contacts or Emergency Information settings.

1. Open the Contacts or Settings app. Many Android phones integrate the emergency contact settings into the Contacts app. On others, however, you may need to use the Settings menu.
2. Navigate to Emergency Information. If using Settings, look for the Safety & Emergency section (this might be under Security or Personal Safety depending on your device). Tap on Emergency Information.
3. Add Emergency Contacts. You can enter emergency details like blood type, allergies, and medications, as well as contacts you want to add. Tap Add Contact, and select the person from your contacts list. You can also include their relationship to you (e.g., sister, doctor).
4. Enable Emergency Information Access. Make sure that Emergency Information is visible on the lock screen. Now, first responders or anyone else helping you, can easily access the information, even if your phone is locked.
5. Save the Information. Once you’ve added your contacts and other information, be sure to save your changes. Now, emergency contacts will be accessible from the lock screen or through the emergency dialer (the number 911 in the US or emergency services in your region).

Why Setting Up Emergency Contacts Matters

In an emergency, seconds matter. Having your medical information and key contacts readily available can help emergency responders give you the best care possible. Be prepared for these unfortunate situations by adding your Medical Agents to your emergency contact list in your phone.

By taking a few minutes to configure this feature, you give yourself and your loved ones a touch more peace of mind. Moreover, if you have your completed Healthcare Power of Attorney, Medical Directive, and/or HIPAA Release, consider sending digital (i.e. PDF) copies of these documents to the emergency contacts (the Agents listed in the documents) for them to store in a secure digital location. In so doing, they would have immediate access to these important documents during your time of need.

Please contact us if you have any questions about your Healthcare Power of Attorney, Healthcare Directive, or HIPAA waivers. If you still need these important documents, you can schedule an appointment to discuss our services and additional tools you may need to implement. Or, if you are a Missouri resident, you can download the state form and complete it yourself by clicking HERE.