Android N can show emergency information on your lock screen

Android N is generating a lot of buzz with its split-screens and improved battery life, but there’s also a potentially life-saving feature that comes with the newest Android makeover. A new Emergency Info screen will let you add details including name, address, date of birth, blood type, known allergies, medication and medical conditions, and more, Droid Life reports. You can also specify an emergency contact.

Now, as long as Android phone owners fill out these medical profiles beforehand, first responders can find information about them immediately. The emergency info will prove especially useful in cases where the patient is alone and unconscious or unable to speak for other reasons.

When setting up the new OS, users will be prompted to add information for this feature. If you decide to skip the setup, you can return to the “Users” section in the Settings menu at a later date. Following that, the emergency panel will be accessible through the lock screen, but apparently only if the phone has a password.

Of course, for the feature to work efficiently, an emergency service provider has to know to take your phone, get to the lock screen, hit an emergency key, and find the Emergency Info tab on the next screen. Seems tedious? Maybe. But it’s a simple precaution that could prove immensely useful in an emergency.

When iOS 8 was launched, Apple introduced a similar functionality with Medical ID built into the Health application for iPhones. It can also be accessed through the lock screen. A discussion on a Reddit thread shows that hospital workers and cops often check iPhones for this vital information now, so Android seems to be heading in the right direction.

The emergency information can’t be edited from the lock screen, so no one will be able to tamper with it. However, your personal information is visible to anyone who can get their hands on the phone, which could be a risk if it is lost or stolen.