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Richmond Fire-Rescue’s Mobile Medical Identification Program
Helping first responders quickly access important medical information when every second matters.
Mobile Medical ID Initiative
Your phone can help speak for you.
During an emergency, you may be unable to answer questions about your health. A mobile Medical ID can make selected medical information and emergency contacts available from your phone’s locked screen.
Richmond Fire-Rescue is encouraging residents to set up this feature, confirm that emergency access is enabled and help family members do the same.
Built into your phone No separate Medical ID app is usually required.
Accessible when locked Emergency access must be enabled in your settings.
Includes trusted contacts Add people who can be contacted during an emergency.
Watch the Introduction
Your phone can help speak for you.
Learn how Richmond Fire-Rescue’s Mobile Medical ID Initiative can help make important information accessible during an emergency.
Mobile Medical ID Initiative
Richmond Fire-Rescue public education video
Ready to set it up?
Choose your device and follow the step-by-step instructions.
iPhone Instructions
Set up your Medical ID on an iPhone.
Use Apple’s Health app to add your emergency information and make it accessible from your locked screen. The process should take only a few minutes.
Open your Medical ID
Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner, and then select Medical ID.
Create or edit your information
Tap Get Started if you have not created a Medical ID before. If one already exists, tap Edit.
Add important medical details
Enter the information you want available during an emergency. Depending on your needs, this may include:
- Medical conditions
- Allergies and reactions
- Current medications
- Blood type
- Additional emergency notes
Add emergency contacts
Scroll to Emergency Contacts, tap Add Emergency Contact, choose someone from your contacts and identify their relationship to you.
Allow access from the locked screen
Scroll to the emergency access settings and turn on Show When Locked. This is the setting that allows someone assisting you to view your Medical ID without entering your passcode.
Save your Medical ID
Review the information for accuracy and tap Done to save your changes.
Optional emergency sharing: Apple also offers a Share During Emergency Call setting. When available and enabled, Medical ID information may
be shared with supported emergency services when you call or
text emergency services from your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Android Instructions
Set up emergency information on Android.
Android phones can make selected medical information and emergency contacts available from the locked screen. Menu names may differ depending on the phone’s manufacturer and software version.
Open your emergency settings
Open the Safety or Personal Safety app and select Your info. On other devices, open Settings and choose Safety and emergency.
Select medical information
Tap Medical information, Medical info or the similarly named option shown on your device.
Add important medical details
Enter accurate information that may help during an emergency. Available fields may include:
- Medical conditions
- Allergies and reactions
- Current medications
- Blood type
- Additional medical notes
Add emergency contacts
Return to the emergency information screen, select Emergency contacts and choose Add contact. Select someone from your contacts who has agreed to be listed.
Allow lock-screen access
Turn on any setting labelled Show when locked, Show on Lock screen or Allow emergency access. The exact wording will depend on your phone.
Review and save
Check the spelling of medication names, confirm your emergency contact numbers and save your changes. Some devices save each entry automatically.
Privacy reminder: Information enabled for emergency access may be viewed by
someone holding your locked phone. Only include information
you are comfortable making available for emergency purposes.
What to Include
Add the information that matters most.
Your Medical ID should be easy to understand during an emergency. Include accurate, current information that may help first responders provide informed care or contact someone you trust.
Medical conditions
List diagnosed conditions that may be important during emergency assessment or treatment.
- Use clear, familiar medical terms
- Prioritize conditions relevant to emergency care
- Remove information that is no longer current
Allergies and reactions
Include known allergies that could affect care, particularly allergies to medications or materials used during treatment.
- Name the medication, food or substance
- Include the type of reaction when known
- Do not enter suspected allergies as confirmed
Current medications
Add medications you currently take, using the names shown on your prescription or medication packaging.
- Check spelling carefully
- Remove medications you no longer take
- Never guess medication names or amounts
Blood type
Add your blood type only when it has been confirmed through reliable medical information.
- Do not estimate or guess
- Leave the field blank when uncertain
- Update it if a previous entry was incorrect
Emergency contacts
Select people who are likely to answer and who understand that they have been listed as your emergency contacts.
- Confirm their phone numbers are current
- Identify their relationship to you
- Tell them they have been added
Important notes
Use the notes area for brief information that may help responders understand your needs during an emergency.
- Keep the wording direct and easy to understand
- Avoid lengthy medical histories
- Include only information that is still relevant
Remember: Information made available from your locked screen may be viewed
without your phone’s passcode. Only include information you are
comfortable making accessible for emergency purposes.
Take Action Today
A few minutes now may provide important information later.
Set up your Medical ID, test it from your phone’s locked screen and encourage the people close to you to do the same.
Help make the whole community better prepared.
Setting up your own phone is a good first step. Helping someone else complete theirs can be just as valuable.
Help a family member
Offer to help parents, grandparents or other relatives find the emergency settings on their phones.
Confirm emergency contacts
Tell the people you have listed and confirm that their phone numbers and contact details are current.
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