Android N’s first developer preview rolled out today. And while Google did show us a number of features in their announcement blog post, we’re still finding a ton of new features in the OS update. One of which is the ability to provide emergency information to first responders in case something happens to you. It’s actually a really genius move on Google’s part. It can store your allergies, blood type as well as emergency contacts, all of which can be configured in the settings.
When you first set up your device with Android N, at the end it gives you the option to input some emergency information. Of course you can skip that, as most people will likely do. But you can always get back to it and add or update your emergency information at any time. Simply jump into Settings then tap on Users, and your emergency information will be right there.
The emergency information covers everything, literally. You’ve got your full name, address, and date of birth. As well as under the medical section, blood type, allergies, medications, medical conditions and notes, and organ donor information. At the bottom you can add contacts as your emergency contact, in case anything happens to you. Now we hope no one ever has to use this information. However it is a great thing to have included in your smartphone. It can actually save your life, or if you’re a first responder, someone else’s life.
Now if you have your phone secured, as most of us don’t but should, first responders can still get to the information without hacking your phone. Simply swipe up on the lock screen, then you’ll see “Emergency”at the bottom, tap on that. You’ll be taken to the dial-pad to make a phone call. At the top, you’ll see a banner for “Emergency Info”. If you tap it, it will then turn red and have you tap it again to show the information. You won’t be able to edit it without logging into the device, unfortunately. And this is to keep your information safe. Many people may not think about this, and most of the rest of us don’t want to think about it, but it’s a great feature to have baked into Android.
