iPhone feature makes getting emergency help easier – how to turn it on
APPLE launched its iOS 13.5 update a few days ago and it gives users the option to send all their Medical ID info to emergency responders.
The feature enables users to send their Medical ID to the professional answering their 911 call to "speed up the process of getting the care you need".
This feature is currently only available in the US but other benefits of Medical ID can be accessed by iPhone users worldwide.
Apple recently : "Medical ID helps first responders access your critical medical information from the Lock screen, without needing your passcode.
"They can see information like allergies and medical conditions as well as who to contact in case of an emergency."
Although this feature was available earlier in the year, the update means US users can now share their Medical ID during an emergency call.
This means the person who answers the call or text can see the distressed person's location and encrypted medical information.
For this to work, you need to set up a Medical ID and then give permission for that ID to be automatically shared.
Set up your Medical ID on iPhone
Create your Medical ID:
- Open Health and tap Medical ID > Edit.
- Enter your emergency contacts and health information like your birth date, height, and blood type.
- Turn on Show When Locked to make your Medical ID available from the Lock screen. In an emergency, this gives people who want to help some important information, like the emergency contacts that you've entered.
- When you're finished, tap Done.
To see what your Medical ID would look like to someone who picks up your phone, try to unlock your phone without the passcode or using Face ID by swiping up.
You should be prompted to enter a passcode and here you'll see the option to click "Emergency" at the bottom of the screen.
Then select Medical ID and the info you've inserted and any emergency contacts should appear.
To check you've updated to iOS 13.5 go to Settings, then General and then click Software update.
You'll be given the option to install if you haven't already.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
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What are your thoughts on the Medical ID feature? Let us know in the comments...
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