by: Richard A. Anderson, CFA
Imagine you are in an accident or have a medical emergency. That can certainly be a scary situation. But what if you could not speak or were unconscious? How would the first responders or medical professionals know whether you have any ongoing medical conditions, food or drug allergies, what medications you are currently taking, or what blood type you are?
In the past, it was advised that people with certain medical conditions or allergies wear a medical bracelet or necklace. The medical bracelet would have a medical alert symbol on the front to make anyone aware of your medical conditions. In addition, it was advised to carry a list of medications in your wallet.
But what if you don’t want to broadcast to everyone that you have a medical condition? Or what if you don’t like wearing jewelry?
Luckily, technology has solved this problem. There are a number of different Medical ID apps available for both iPhone and Android smartphones. For anyone with an iPhone, Apple’s iOS Health App has a Medical ID feature. It is extremely easy to set up and helps first responders access your most critical medical information from the lock screen, without needing your passcode.
To set up your Medical ID in the Health app on your iPhone, follow these easy instructions.
1. Open the Health app and tap the Medical ID tab.
2. Tap Edit.
3. To make the Medical ID available from the Lock screen on your iPhone, turn on Show When Locked. This will allow first responders to access your medical information without entering your passcode.
4. Enter your health information like your birth date, height, weight, medical conditions, medical notes, allergies and reactions, medications, blood type, and whether you are an organ donor.
5. Tap Done.
In addition to setting up your Medical ID in the Health app on your iPhone, you can add emergency contacts. Your emergency contacts are included in your Medical ID, so first responders will know who to contact. Your emergency contacts will also receive a message, which includes your current location, stating that you have called emergency services when you use Emergency SOS.
To set up your Emergency Contacts in the Health app on your iPhone, follow these easy instructions.
1. Open the Health app and tap the Medical ID tab.
2. Tap Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contact.
3. To add an emergency contact, tap the green plus sign under emergency contacts. Tap a contact and add their relationship to you.
4. To remove an emergency contact, tap the red minus sign next to the contact, then tap Delete.
5. Tap Done.
Once you have set up your Medical ID and emergency contacts, you can always go back and make changes at any time.
You should also know that your private medical information will not be shared with other apps.
If you have not done so already, we highly advise that you input your personal medical information in a Medical ID app on your phone. If you have any questions or would like assistance on setting up your Medical ID, please contact a member of the HIGHLAND team.
Author’s Bio
Richard A. Anderson is a portfolio analyst at HIGHLAND Financial Advisors, LLC based out of Wayne, NJ. HIGHLAND Financial Advisors, LLC is a Fee-Only financial planning firm that offers comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, employer retirement planning, and investment management services to help clients focus on what matters most to them.
Richard graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. Richard joined the firm in June 2013 and is responsible for assisting HIGHLAND’s Wealth Advisors in developing portfolios to help individuals, families, and institutions reach their financial goals. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and member of CFA Society New York. For more of Rich’s thoughts on the markets and sports, follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn.