In an effort to continue helping first responders, especially during COVID-19, iPhone Medical ID information will be delivered to emergency personnel through the RapidSOS platform in the coming weeks. Later this month, iPhone users in the US will have the ability to opt-in to this new feature to share critical information with 911 and first responders in an emergency.
What information can 911 receive?
Individuals who opt in to share information from their Medical ID with emergency services will be able to share:
- Name
- Age
- Medical Conditions
- Medical Notes
- Allergies & Reactions
- Medications
- Blood Type
- Weight
- Height
- Primary Language
- Emergency Contacts
How is the information made available to 911?
Opt-in Medical ID information from iPhone users will be made available to 911 centers for free using RapidSOS Portal or integrated RapidSOS Portal.
Agencies that don’t yet have access to RapidSOS Portal can sign up here: rapidsosportal.com/sign-up/account. To learn more about integrated RapidSOS Portal, visit: rapidsos.com/blog/integrated-rapidsos-portal/.
How do I use this information?
Caller health and profile information can provide a clearer picture of the emergency, and what resources and precautions are necessary to respond. As COVID-19 sweeps across the country, situational awareness is crucial to protecting first responders from unnecessary exposure and time on scene.
Having immediate access to medical information can help first responders make decisions about care, equipment, and personnel before arriving on scene, with information they could only gather in near-perfect scenarios. 911 can access this information the moment a call comes in. This supplemental data can provide a helpful cross-check on caller-reported information and could improve the efficiency of verification.
“Getting data to the emergency communication center has never been more important than it is today during this coronavirus crisis. We are tasked with making quick but informed decisions to protect our community and first responders. Having this emergency profile information available immediately gives us another critical tool as we deal with constantly evolving threats.”
Tyrell Morris, Executive Director of Orleans Parish Communication District
Where can I find Medical ID information in RapidSOS Portal?
If a 911 call is delivered from an iPhone user who has opted in, information from the user’s Medical ID will display in a pop-up window when you click on the location data card. It will include available information from any of the fields mentioned above.
Please note: you should always verify that this information is related to the person experiencing an emergency, in the event that someone is calling 911 on behalf of someone else.
How can I learn more?
Sign up for our webinar on Thursday, May 14th at 3:30pm ET to learn more about this new feature and ask members of the RapidSOS team questions.