For years, iPhone users could automatically share potentially lifesaving medical details with 911 dispatchers in the event of an emergency. Now, the latest Android devices are catching up. In an important upgrade that could help save lives during medical crises, Android phones can now send critical health data to first responders when a user dials 911.

The new capability comes via an update to the Personal Safety app on select Android devices like the Nothing Phone 1 and the Google Pixel smartphone line. After opting into the feature within the app, users can choose to share information such as their name, allergies, existing medical conditions, emergency contacts, and more.

This data is transmitted directly to 911 dispatchers right when an emergency call comes in, assisting them in assessing and responding to the situation even if the caller cannot communicate verbally. As Tenea Reddick, Emergency Communications Director for the Baltimore City Fire Department explains, “This is when the information you put inside your phone becomes useful to 911. 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.”

The capability is powered by RapidSOS, a safety platform that securely routes medical details from smartphones to over 16,000 emergency response agencies and 911 dispatch centers. RapidSOS has been supporting this on iPhones since the release of iOS 13.5 in 2020. Now Android users can benefit from the potentially lifesaving service as well.

To set up the feature on compatible Android devices with the latest Personal Safety app, users can navigate to the “Your info” section, click “Emergency info access” and then enable “Share during emergency call.” Entering details like health conditions, medications, allergies and emergency contacts will ensure first responders have those details handy if an emergency strikes.

This upgrade brings Android devices into closer feature parity with iPhones when it comes to enhanced 911 emergency capabilities. With medical crises so often being time-sensitive situations, faster access to health data for first responders could make the difference in saving more lives.