View Full Version : Security using smart phone
As I have mentioned before, I walk my dog for an hour in the am and 1/2 hr in the pm.
For my security, I have carried my smart phone, house keys and wallet holding my ID, healthcare info etc with me as part of being responsible in case of an accident to me or someone for whom I need to call assistance. I now use a fanny pack to carry it all. This gets a little bulky with winter coats needed in the cold weather.
How could I use my smart phone, an IPhone, to carry my home address, medical insurance info, MD name and #, etc., so that all I need to carry is my phone and my house key both of which I could keep in my coat pockets?
I meet the same people regularly but very few know my full name and none have any of my health info. One of these people collapsed and needed the emergency services so my phone is going with me everywhere now to assist others as well as myself.
You could take photos of key documents and keep them on the phone. Or PDFs of the documents.
There are a lot of smart phone cases made with a couple of card slots in the back.
Or you could look for a smart phone wallet that holds the phone on one side and slots for the cards on the other side.
Even just a simple coin case large enough for just the phone, cards, and keys.
You could take photos of key documents and keep them on the phone. Or PDFs of the documents.
Bae
Do emergency/hospital personnel go onto a victims phone searching for these documents?
Is there a recommended place to save this info if they do?
Bae
Do emergency/hospital personnel go onto a victims phone searching for these documents?
Is there a recommended place to save this info if they do?
No, I had assumed from your post that this was for your own reference. If you have some absolutely crucial piece of medical history that you need conveyed to emergency medical folks when you are unconscious, you will need another approach.
I was under the impression that emergency personnel would look on your phone for an "ICE" contact (in case of emergency). My phone allows me a few lines of text. If you need to convey more info that that, then I second the recommendation for a case that could accomodate extra cards, or using label tape and adhering that info to the back of your phone.
My wife carries her iPhone 6 plus in a leather wallet case similar to this: http://www.amazon.com/iPhone-Urvoix-Leather-Separatable-Magnetic/dp/B017RAPJAG/ref=sr_1_10?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1451332044&sr=1-10&keywords=iphone+6+plus+wallet+case
It is capable of holding everything she would normally carry in a regular wallet.
I was under the impression that emergency personnel would look on your phone for an "ICE" contact (in case of emergency). My phone allows me a few lines of text. If you need to convey more info that that, then I second the recommendation for a case that could accomodate extra cards, or using label tape and adhering that info to the back of your phone.
How about taking a photo of your id and using it as the lock screen photo. If you're found unconscious than at least they'd know who you were.
I was under the impression that emergency personnel would look on your phone for an "ICE" contact (in case of emergency).
At least in the field, I know that we rarely go through peoples' possessions looking for info, there is usually enough other life-critical stuff going on that it isn't a priority. All the insurance/contacts/relatives stuff can be sorted out later. We look for medic-alert bracelets/necklaces, and if in a home we look for an envelope of medical information on their refrigerator or in their freezer. Phones always seem to be locked, and rifling through a phone looking for info doesn't happen.
Thanks everyone. I was trying to think of a way that emergency personnel would find it if I was incapable. With the ideas given though, I have realized that I can slip a simple sheet of info between my inner and outer phone cases.
I just checked the contact list and notice that I can add some extra numbers to include my daughters contacts.
Would emergency personnel look in the phone contacts for this info if needed?
Neat case for the 6S. I have the 5S but will see what is possible.
I checked Amazon.ca and they have a case with cc slots with free shipping at present so that is my solution.
Glad I asked the original question as I found out more than I expected. Thanks.
Thanks Dhiana and Bae. I was trying to think of a way that emergency personnel would find it if I was incapable. With the ideas given though, I have realized that I can slip a simple sheet of info between my inner and outer phone cases.
I just checked the contact list and notice that I can add some extra numbers to include my daughters contacts.
Would emergency personnel look in the phone contacts for this info if needed?
Razz, I don't know about what emergency personnel do. I have a friend who goes running alone and I bought her an ID bracelet -- it's custom-engraved with her partner's address, phone and cell phone, plus her name. I can't quite remember where I bought it but I think it was from Road ID -- (roadid.com). She finds it comfortable and easy to wear.
How about taking a photo of your id and using it as the lock screen photo.
My wife, one of the most brilliant women I've ever met, cannot remember her cell phone number. To help her out I created a lock screen photo with her number prominently displayed in a red font. Now she says there's no reason to remember it because, there it is.
My wife, one of the most brilliant women I've ever met, cannot remember her cell phone number. To help her out I created a lock screen photo with her number prominently displayed in a red font. Now she says there's no reason to remember it because, there it is.
Have to see what a lock screen is first. Not a techie at all.
SteveinMN
12-28-15, 5:00pm
Have to see what a lock screen is first.
A lock screen is the screen which displays when the phone is switched on (or awakened from "sleeping"). It requires that the user does something (enter a code or pattern or, for some phones, a fingerprint) before continuing on to the home screen. Everyone phone I've seen with a lock screen allows you to place an emergency (911) call and maybe operate the camera without applying the unlock sequence.
Given the kind of information most people have on their phones, a lock screen is IMHO pretty much a no-brainer. That way someone who finds your lost phone or steals it from you does not have access to info like your friends' names and contact info, IDs and passwords, and so on.
I'd be reluctant to make a photo of an ID suitable for lock screen use without redacting key pieces of data (like your driver license number). No need to make it too easy for people to steal that kind of information....
Personally, I'd vote for a case that could hold a couple of cards.
I do have an opening screen that requires a code to access the phone but so far I have only posted some photos to it. I simply called it my home screen.
I'd be reluctant to make a photo of an ID suitable for lock screen use without redacting key pieces of data (like your driver license number). No need to make it too easy for people to steal that kind of information....
At first when I read this I thought, yeah, that probably makes sense. But then I thought, what difference does it make if she's got her ID in a case attached to the phone and the phone gets stolen, or she has a picture of her ID as her lock screen and the phone gets stolen. Either way they've got the info.
All that said, I like Alan's idea of a photo of just the necessary info.
I do have an opening screen that requires a code to access the phone but so far I have only posted some photos to it. I simply called it my home screen.
That's the lock screen. The home screen is the background screen after the phone is unlocked. The one with all your apps on it.
ToomuchStuff
12-29-15, 12:41am
So your found unconscious, with a damaged or dead battery phone. What do you/they do?
How do emergency personal get into your phone? (there are reasons Law enforcement ask people to unlock phones. They don't have or have to guess the passwords, and they don't need a warrant to search it then)
I agree on the ID photo stuff not being a good idea. Not sure it is even legal to use as an ID in some states. (let alone leaving it on a table with friends and someone could come by and snap a picture of "them" and instead be photographing your ID)
Coats have pockets.
Simplemind
12-29-15, 2:12am
Depending on the circumstances, police will go through a phone for information. I have not seen fire/rescue do it. They usually deal with the immediate situation and nothing beyond because the person is usually being transported and then it will be on the hospital to figure it out. Road ID is great.
So your found unconscious, with a damaged or dead battery phone. What do you/they do?
How do emergency personal get into your phone? (there are reasons Law enforcement ask people to unlock phones. They don't have or have to guess the passwords, and they don't need a warrant to search it then)
I agree on the ID photo stuff not being a good idea. Not sure it is even legal to use as an ID in some states. (let alone leaving it on a table with friends and someone could come by and snap a picture of "them" and instead be photographing your ID)
Coats have pockets.
If the OP is being transported to the hospital unconscious for some reason I doubt she'll be concerned whether her photo of her ID on her phone is "legal", but more likely concerned that the cops or whoever can identify her and find someone to contact. And I agree, if she has her driver's license as the lock screen photo she shouldn't just leave her phone lying around. But then, she shouldn't be doing that anyway. After all, she could end up like a friend of mine whose son snatched a moment with her unlocked phone and posted to facebook "I like pie!" It wasn't until an hour or so later that my friend discovered that her 9 year old son had punked her. By that time numerous friends had posted mocking responses about her love of pie. And I have to admit that some were really quite funny. But I also have to admit that it made it quite clear to me that I don't want to just leave my phone lying around. Ever.
Williamsmith
12-29-15, 3:17am
Carry a physical identification card with you. Don't put critical information on your smartphone. If you are being treated by EMS , your identity is secondary and if not readily apparent will be left up to medical personel at a facility. If you are a victim of a crime placing critical information on your smartphone introduces search and seizure issues that must be weighed. Contact numbers for persons able to provide critical information is probably the best info for law enforcement purposes. In this case, I don't think technology adds any simplicity to the scenario.
I just discovered that on an iPhone you can create a medical alert document that contains whatever info you want including name, emergency contacts, allergies, etc. it's then accessible from the emergency dealer screen. Not sure if emergency personnel know to look for this but if the OP happens to have an iPhone this may be a reasonably good solution.
I just discovered that on an iPhone you can create a medical alert document that contains whatever info you want including name, emergency contacts, allergies, etc. it's then accessible from the emergency dealer screen. Not sure if emergency personnel know to look for this but if the OP happens to have an iPhone this may be a reasonably good solution.
OK,jp1, how do I do this with my IPhone? Do I use the health app that comes with it? Would you walk me through this please? I can use a card with my name and address to alert EMS or whoever is needing to access this.
On the iPhone Health app, with the medical info tools:
http://www.tekrevue.com/tip/iphone-medical-id/
Clearly some pluses and minuses.
I do not yet see this being used in the field by first responders here, and my organization is used to test-run the latest-greatest stuff for Seattle/King County. I'll bring it up with our medical director when he's out for our next training.
freshstart
12-29-15, 6:20pm
There are a lot of smart phone cases made with a couple of card slots in the back.
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the EYN company makes these and I bought one. It would hold a key (not a bulky car key), some cash, credit cards and emergency info shrunk down onto a smaller piece of paper. It has a carrying strap. I got mine cheap, otherwise it doesn't hold enough in my opinion. Fine for a walk, but not enough room for a whole day's worth of stuff.
Thanks, Bae, good analysis of the option. I was not aware of the emergency access to the locked phone until now. I did look at the health app after reading about it a few months ago but felt filling out the info unnecessary at the time.
I am going to walk the dog with a card with necessary EMS info in my phone case plus my house keys and at night a small flashlight when dark along with the reflective vest.
Thanks everyone for all the input.
freshstart
12-29-15, 10:08pm
I am going to walk the dog with a card with necessary EMS info in my phone case plus my house keys and at night a small flashlight when dark along with the reflective vest.
my phone has a flashlight app and it isn't bad. I forgot to say, I have my shrunken down health care proxy with me at all times, probably a nurse thing, but a good idea to do.
my phone has a flashlight app and it isn't bad. I forgot to say, I have my shrunken down health care proxy with me at all times, probably a nurse thing, but a good idea to do.
Uou are right about the flashlight app. Duh! I forgot that I had it but have used it on occasion elsewhere. One less thing to carry. Thanks!
Simplemind
12-30-15, 4:10pm
There seems to be an app for everything. My son found one for a level when we were hanging a picture.
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