How to Add Emergency Contacts on Your Phone
Adding emergency contacts to your phone ensures help can reach your loved ones promptly if you experience a health emergency. Both iPhones and Android devices have built-in features that allow you to enter critical contacts and information, and first responders know how to access these details—even when your phone is locked.
Why Emergency Contacts Matter
- Emergency contacts let medical professionals or first responders quickly reach your family or friends in a crisis.
- Details like allergies, medical conditions and current medications can be stored alongside phone numbers for better care.
How to Add Emergency Contacts on iPhone
1. Open the **Health** app (white icon with red heart).
2. Tap your profile photo in the top right.
3. Select **Medical ID**.
4. Tap **Edit** (top right).
5. Scroll to **Emergency Contacts**—tap **Add Emergency Contact**.
6. Choose a contact and their relationship to you (for example: daughter, friend).
7. Add more contacts as needed, then tap **Done** to save your information.
8. Be sure that both “Show when locked” & “Share during emergency call” options are on.
- This information will appear on your Medical ID, accessible from the lock screen in emergencies.
How to Add Emergency Contacts on Android
Android phones may look different, but usually, you can add emergency contacts this way:
1. Open the **Contacts** app or **Settings**.
- Some phones have a **Safety** or **Personal Safety** app—look for these if you have a
Google Pixel.
2. In **Settings**, search for “Emergency information” or “In Case of Emergency (ICE)”.
3. Tap **Add Emergency Contact** (sometimes under the “Groups” tab as “ICE – Emergency
Contacts”).
4. Select people to add, and fill in other info like medical notes if available.
5. Save your entries—these will show on your lock screen for first responders,
How First Responders Access Your Emergency Info
- On iPhone: When the phone is locked, first responders either tap the “Emergency” button on the lock screen or press and hold the volume up and side buttons at the same time, then tap **Medical ID**. This displays your chosen emergency contacts and any medical information you added—no passcode needed.
- On Android: Usually, a first responder will tap **Emergency** on the lock screen, then tap
**Emergency information** (or similar wording). This reveals your listed emergency contact
and relevant health details[.
Tips for Seniors
- Keep your medical details up to date in your phone along with emergency contacts.
- Ask family or Senior Village Home Technology Team to help you set it up the first time, if you need it.
- Be sure your emergency contacts will answer unknown numbers—it could be a responder calling to help you.