Our phones are more advanced than ever in 2025, and sometimes, they feel like they're a physical extension of our bodies. As long as they keep their battery, they can work as a compass, flashlight, tracker, and be used in situations when you've got no signal.
In terms of being stuck in a dangerous position where you aren't able to communicate, your smartphone can let emergency services access your medical records and get in touch with your next of kin in your time of need. Of course, that's impossible if your phone is locked and paramedics can't get access to your device
Now, one paramedic has taken to TikTok and implored viewers to spend a few minutes activating a potentially life-saving feature.
Under the handle of @MummyNeeNaw, the mother of two and paramedic said: "Just a little request. It's something so many people don't know about or don't think to actually do, but it could be incredibly important.
Advert
"It takes a few minutes of your time and could make all the difference to you and your loved ones."
There might be multiple times when you leave your house without any identification. Whether it's going for a run or popping to the shops, there are multiple reasons you might only take your phone.
As the OP reminds us: "But it does mean, god forbid, anything should happen to you and we turn up...if you're in a place where no one knows who you are, we also don't know who you are - and I've been to a few [incidents] over the years, and I went to one yesterday where a gentlemen was very poorly and we didn't know anything about him."
Asking us to put vital details like our name, date of birth, and next of kin on our lock screen, it can also be used to let paramedics know about any medications, conditions, and allergies.
To activate your Medical ID on iPhone, head to your settings, navigate to Health, and then select Medical ID. Those who haven't used the Health app for a while might be asked to complete a Health Checklist. On your Medical ID screen, there are various headings that you can edit.
Android devices depend on which model you have, although you can typically add emergency details by searching 'emergency' in settings. Then, find the option labelled Emergency Information and fill in their details. Not that an emergency contact has to already be in your contacts.
No matter what kind of smartphone you have, it takes just minutes to set up this kind of information.
As @MummyNeeNaw reminds us: "It could be potentially life changing if we know what is on that."