How to Set Up & Use Your Apple Health Profile on iOS
Apple Health comes pre-installed with all iPhone devices and enables you to have a lock screen ID card with your contact details and medical conditions. It also allows other health apps to send its health information about you.
If you’re anything like me, you haven’t carried a wallet in a long time. Let’s face it, they’re bulky, and when you can just put your banknotes in your pocket, who needs to have a wallet too? This creates a problem when you need to carry your ID and are in an accident. Obviously, the emergency services will want to know who you are. That’s why all iPhone users should use Apple Health.
Apple Health is pre-installed with all iPhone devices and gives you a lock screen ID card with your contact details and medical conditions. It also allows other health apps to send health information about you, so you have a one-stop shop if you need to check some health data about yourself.
How To Set Up Your Apple Health Lockscreen Profile
First, look at how to locate Apple Health on your iPhone and set up your lock screen profile. So if God forbid, you find yourself in an accident, a paramedic can access your details, including your next-of-kin. Obviously, it requires a paramedic or a police officer who knows how to look for these things. But with iPhones being extremely popular, there’s a good chance that someone will remember to check your phone. If not, they can ask the ten-year-old kid on his skateboard standing nearby.
Locate The Apple Health App On Your Phone
The fastest way to find the app (if you don’t already know where it is) is to swipe left on your home screen. Then in the search engine at the top, type in “Apple Health.” You won’t even have to type all of it before it appears. Tap on it to open.
Tap On ‘Medical ID’
When it is open, tap on “Medical ID“ in the bottom right-hand corner.
This then brings up the Medical ID, which will show on your lock screen. Mine was completed a long time ago, but yours will probably be empty. So click “Edit“ in the top-right-hand corner to begin putting in your pertinent details.
Fill In The Relevant Details
First of all, make sure the “Show When Locked” option is toggled. If not, your medical ID will not show on your lock screen.
Then scroll down and begin entering your details on the lines provided. You can insert a photo of yourself from your phone (I really have to change that terrible one of me). Also, list as much information as possible about medical conditions, your allergies, and what medication you are currently taking (as well as the dosages).
Remember, if you are unconscious, and in La-La Land, the emergency services will be relying 100% on everything you put in this medical ID. So don’t skimp on the information details.
If you scroll right to the bottom, you’ll see two important sections you should fill in. First, whether or not you are an organ donor. Second, under “Emergency Contacts,” you need to put your next-of-kin.
Make sure their contact details are already in your iPhone contacts. Then tap “Add Emergency Contact.” That will open up your iPhone contacts list. Scroll down, find your next of kin and choose them. Their details will now be added to your Medical ID.
When you are finished, tap “Done” in the top-right-hand corner of the screen to save everything and exit the Health app.
Check Your Lockscreen
Now let’s see your medical ID and also see how a paramedic, firefighter, or police officer would access it.
First, tap your Home screen button and tap Emergency at the bottom. Note that if you have Touch ID enabled, you need to use a different finger to get to this screen; otherwise, you will keep opening your phone!
This then brings you to the number keypad for making emergency calls (assuming it works in your country). At the bottom, it says in red *Medical ID. Tap on that.
Then your Medical ID will show up. Obviously, I have blurred my information. You need to scroll further down the screen to see the emergency contact you designated. The person viewing the profile simply has to tap the contact name to make an instant call on your phone to that person.
Conclusion
Remember that your lock screen Medical ID must be kept up to date at all times. While writing this article, I discovered that some of the information was way out of date. So maybe set yourself a reminder on your phone or calendar to periodically check your medical data every six months or so.
