A new Android tool allows the phone to alert emergency services when the device owner is unable, sending relevant medical data to paramedics or the police.
+ Twitch Announces Closure of Operations in South Korea
+ Meta Announces a Series of Improvements and New Features for Messenger
Android users can add information such as the caller’s name, allergies, emergency contacts, and pre-existing medical conditions. The feature is especially beneficial if the person reaching out to emergency services is unable to communicate.
“This information is available to use before the dispatch, and before the responders arrive. It saves so much time because we already know what we’re responding to and what we need,” said Tenea Reddick, ECC Director of the Baltimore Fire Department, in a statement.
For now, this feature is available only on Androids with the Personal Safety app, such as the Nothing Phone 1 and phones from the Google Pixel 4 to the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
The feature has been available for iPhone and Apple Watch users since the release of iOS 13.5 in 2020. Apple users can access the Medical ID, a feature of the Health app that, similar to the Android Personal Safety app, stores information such as blood type, emergency contacts, allergies, and pre-existing medical conditions.
