Not a day goes by that we don't use our smartphones. For many of us, it never leaves our side. It either sits snuggly in a pocket or is gripped tightly so that we don't drop it and crack the screen. We even keep phone chargers around the house and in our cars, so we never face a dead battery. One thing we don't give much thought to is how helpful our Android phones can be in the case of an emergency. From remembering emergency contacts to collecting medical information, your phone's medical emergency services can be a blessing that you hope you'll never need but are there when you do.

Your Android phone isn't magic, though. When it comes to your medical information, you'll need to enter it manually so it can be accessed when the time arises. Here's how.

We use a OnePlus 11 for this guide. If you use another Android smartphone, the names and placement of settings may be different. Also, the Personal Safety app is preinstalled on Pixel phones and adds features that aren't available in the Medical Information settings.

How to add medical information to your Android phone

To enter this information, you'll go to your phone's settings. Open Settings, scroll down, and tap the Safety & Emergency option. It should be between the Location and Passwords & Accounts options.

From the Safety & Emergency menu, scroll down and tap Medical Info to fill out the medical information fields. On the OnePlus 11, you'll see a portfolio showing your general medical information. Click Edit to access the full medical info and start inputting your information. You can add your name, weight, blood type, allergies, medications, address, medical notes, and organ donor status.

Tapping each field opens a text box or selection menu for you to enter your information.

Tap the pencil icon in the upper-right corner on Samsung phones to see and edit the medical information fields.

The medical information you add to your Android phone is only saved on your device, so you don't have to worry about Google learning your blood type or finding out about your dairy allergy.

How to display medical information in an emergency

If you become unconscious or can't access your medical information in an emergency, you'll need to make it possible for others to access it so that they can help you. At the top of the medical info edits screen, you'll see a box labeled Show info when locked, along with a toggle switch on the right side. Click this switch to turn it on. We recommend leaving this activated so that paramedics and other emergency service staff members can access this valuable, life-saving information.

How to add emergency contacts

Setting close friends or family members as your emergency contacts is always a good idea. When you have an emergency, your phone allows people to view and call these contacts without unlocking your device, as long as you have allowed access to your emergency information.

To choose your emergency contacts, go to the Safety & Emergency settings and select Emergency Contacts. Next, tap the Add Contact option and choose a person from your contact list that you want to add. You can add multiple people as your emergency contacts, but make sure the names you add are reliable and available if they're needed.

How to turn on Emergency SOS mode

Emergency SOS mode is a great backup when you feel threatened and fear for your safety. We briefly walk you through the steps to set up the feature in this guide, but check out our guide that explains how to activate Emergency SOS.

For starters, you'll make your power button useful in emergency situations. In the Safety & Emergency menu, click the toggle switch next to Quickly access emergency call page. This allows you to enter the emergency call page by quickly pressing the power button five times.

You can also allow your phone to automatically call for help when you enter the emergency call page. To do this, go to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Emergency SOS. Tap the toggle button next to Emergency SOS to activate the feature. You'll see a list of numbers you can select from as your emergency contact, including 911, your stored emergency contacts, and a custom number. After selecting your number of choice, you can choose the number of seconds for the countdown before the number is automatically called (in case you need to stop it before the call goes through), as well as whether you want a countdown sound to play during the countdown process.

Bonus: Other emergency services

There are other emergency services offered by Android that, although not directly concerning medical info, could be lifesaving and worth adding to this article. All of these options are under Safety & emergency.

Scroll to the bottom of the section. You'll see a header labeled Google Play Services, along with multiple subcategories available to select. Click a category to read more about its options and to toggle the activating switch if desired. An example using the Emergency Location Service option is shown below.

Your Google Pixel Watch can help you in an emergency

Now that your Android phone is filled with handy medical information and emergency contacts, it's time to get your smartwatch in on the action. Set up Emergency SOS and Fall detection on your Google Pixel Watch. Your watch can call emergency services when you press the crown or fall down, giving you another great way for your tech to look out for you.