Life-Saving Hacks: Setting an Emergency Contact on iPhone like a Pro!

Key Takeaways

Set up emergency contacts on your iPhone to appear as next of kin on your Medical ID, accessible from your lock screen.

Emergency contacts will be notified when you utilize the "Emergency SOS" feature, and they can override the silent mode settings on your device.

You can add emergency contacts either through the Phone app or the Health app, and you can also enable the silent mode bypass for certain contacts within the Phone app. Additionally, remember to fill out your Medical ID with crucial health information.

What Is an Emergency Contact?

An emergency contact is a special contact in your address book with additional privileges compared to your other contacts.

Setting up an emergency contact on your iPhone serves two purposes. Firstly, they will be displayed as your next of kin on your Medical ID. This feature can be accessed from your lock screen by strangers and includes important information such as your name, allergies, blood type, and a list of people to be contacted in case of an emergency.

To access your Medical ID, press and hold the power and volume up or down buttons simultaneously until the "Medical ID" slider appears. Alternatively, you can access it by tapping the "Emergency" button on the passcode screen or by holding the side button (not the digital crown) on an Apple Watch. If you are unable to locate the "Medical ID" option, it may be necessary to set it up in the Health app beforehand.

If you get into a situation where someone may want to contact an emergency contact they can easily do so from this screen without having to unlock your device.

By adding emergency contacts, you ensure that whenever you activate your device's "Emergency SOS" feature, these contacts will receive a notification. To access this feature on an iPhone, simply press and hold the power button and volume button, then slide the "Emergency SOS" option. On an Apple Watch, press and hold the side button.

Moreover, you have the option to override your device's silent mode settings, allowing a contact to sound an audible alert on your device regardless of your current settings. This can be done for any contact on your iPhone, whether they are designated as an emergency contact or not.

How to Add an Emergency Contact on Your iPhone

You can set an emergency contact via a contact card or using the Health app on your iPhone.

Nominate an Emergency Contact Using a Contact Card

Launch the Phone app and tap on the Contacts tab, then select a contact. You can also tap on the Recent tab and tap the small "i" button next to a contact's name.

Scroll down to the bottom of the contact card and tap the "Add to Emergency Contacts" button:

Choose a label that best describes your relationship, or tap on "Add Custom Label" to add your own:

Your Medical ID will open with your nominated contacts under the "Emergency Contacts" section. Tap "Done" to save your changes.

Add or Remove an Emergency Contact using the Health App

You can also do this using the Health app directly. Launch the Health app then tap on your user icon in the top-right corner, followed by Medical ID:

Tap the "Edit" option located in the top-right corner of the screen, then scroll down until you find "Emergency Contacts". Next, tap on the "Add Emergency Contact" button. Choose a contact from your list, followed by selecting a label that accurately reflects your relationship. Alternatively, you can opt to create a custom label by tapping on "Add Custom Label". Finally, tap "Done" in order to save the changes you have made.

You can also remove a contact from your list here by tapping the minus next to their name while editing your Medical ID.

How to Enable Silent Mode Bypass for a Contact

To ensure that you can hear incoming phone calls and messages from a specific emergency contact, even if your device is on silent mode, follow these steps:

1. Open the Phone app on your device.

2. Tap on the "Contacts" tab.

3. Locate the desired contact.

4. Tap on the "Edit" option located in the top-right corner.

5. Select either the "Ringtone" or "Text Tone" button.

Enable the "Emergency Bypass" setting in the window that appears:

You'll need to enable this independently for both text tone and ringtone if you want both to sound.

Fill Out Your Medical ID Too

During an emergency, your Medical ID can be extremely helpful if you have specific allergies, medical conditions, or take regular medication. In addition, it allows you to provide important details such as your primary language and blood type.

Discover the multitude of features available on the Health app beyond just Medical ID and emergency contacts. Uncover the process of monitoring your steps and effortlessly sharing health information with your loved ones and medical professionals. Furthermore, delve into the ways an Apple Watch can contribute to enhancing your overall health understanding.