Frazer Blog

One simple way to prepare for the worst

by | Jul 18, 2016 | For Families

A firetruck on a street

With so many tragedies unfolding all over the world, it’s hard not to think that it could someday happen to you.

Many of us don’t want to face the fact that tragedy could strike at any moment, but it’s an unfortunate truth. One of the best things you can do for the sake of your loved ones is to make it easier for emergency responders to reach them with smartphone emergency information.

Modern technology has made it very hard for someone to gain access to another person’s smartphone, and these features are great for safety and security in cases of lost or stolen phones. But if someone is involved in an emergency situation, it can pose a problem for first responders trying to get in touch with family members.

One solution to this is to put specific information in your phone that is available on your smartphone’s lock screen. Here’s how to do it:

iPhone

  • Open your phone’s Apple Health app.
  • Tap on “Medical ID” in the bottom right corner.
  • Tap “Create Medical ID.”
  • At the very top, turn on “Show When Locked.”
  • Fill in as much information as is relevant to you, including emergency contacts or medications and dosages.
  • If you have no known allergies or aren’t taking medication, type in “None” so that medical personnel know you haven’t just overlooked these fields.
  • Hit “Done” to save.

Android

Android phones differ, so it’s best to research what your phone has available in terms of ICE (In Case of Emergency) capabilities. If your phone does not support ICE directly on it, you may be able to download an app that does.

If you download an app, make sure it has the capability of being accessed from your lock screen. You also should make sure that the app does not just send texts to emergency contacts because first responders will need to make sure they’ve reached your contacts.

Windows Phone

With a Windows phone, you’ll need to download and use a lock screen app that displays messages on your lock screen. Indicate that the message is ICE, and include relevant information.

Blackberry

  • Swipe down from the top to view the menu.
  • Select “Settings.”
  • Choose “Security and Privacy.”
  • Choose “Lock Screen.”
  • Choose “Lock Screen Message” and enter your information. Keep it short since you will have limited space.

All Smartphones

If you can’t find something that works for you, you can just go onto any smartphone, create a note with your important information, screenshot the note, and save it as your background.

In addition to setting up your emergency contact information, it’s also important that you discuss with your family what your plans are in case of an emergency so that they can be prepared to respect your wishes. Though it’s not a topic many of us feel the need to talk about, and it can be uncomfortable at times, it’s an important topic and it’s never too early to discuss.

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