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Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)
Since 2015, Apple has integrated a function in its iPhones that allows rescuers to access certain important information in the event of an emergency. But few users know it and configure it. And you?
Do you know your iPhone down to its smallest features? And do you know that it can be a valuable tool in an emergency? Not sure.
A medical form to be completed in less than a minute
Certainly, faced with a dangerous or tragic event, everyone knows that they can call 15, 17 or 18, even without a SIM card. But the manipulation still requires touching the “Emergency” option at the bottom left of the code entry menu, to access this option. However, at this precise location there is also a medical form that few know and that it is nevertheless possible to fill in in just 1 minute. Identity, age, allergies, blood type, weight and height, current treatment or spoken languages can be collected there and provide valuable information during a rescue. It is also in this sheet that you can indicate one or more contacts to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Do you want to complete this feature? The iPhone medical file is configured in the application Healthpre-installed since iOS 9. Be aware that if you have deleted it, it can be installed at any time, even from the App Store.
The next step is simple:
- Open the app;
- Click on the photo that corresponds to your profile;
- Check “Medical form”;
- Fill in their data;
- Choose your emergency contacts;
- Validate with OK.
Do not forget however to activate the two options “show in locked mode” which allows rescuers to access it without you having to unlock your device. As well as the “emergency call” option which can send your data directly in the event of an accident to the emergency services.
A medical card that can save you in several ways
According to the magazine Numerama, specialist in digital information, this medical file is not only useful for first-aiders, but would allow several interactions. Indeed, when you trigger the SOS function (by pressing the side button 5 times in a row), Apple can take care of sending the data contained to the emergency services. The site mentions that your data is also automatically sent in the event of a serious car accident without a quick response from you or via emergency satellite communication. Indeed recently, in an area not covered by the network, the latest iPhones are able to use satellite networks in an emergency.
More personal data shared, do you think? Maybe, but in this specific case, they could be very useful to you, as comments Dr. Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo:
“Any emergency information can be interesting, all that we can glean in information about the patient, the injured person, can help in their care. Afterwards, it’s not because we don’t have the diabetic status , or epileptic of a person that we will not be able to save him, but this is additional information which can help… As long as the iPhone is not broken in the accident for example”.