What information should you prepare for an emergency on the Camino de Santiago?

Before walking several Camino stages, consider how someone could find a useful contact if you needed help. An NFC bracelet can open a web profile, but access depends on the phone, an internet connection and the information you have kept up to date.

What the current bracelet does

Bracelets from the current production batch contain one NFC chip linking to a web profile. Reading the profile requires a compatible NFC phone and internet access. The chip does not hold an offline copy of your personal medical history. Test the link with the phone you plan to carry before travelling, and check it again after editing the profile.

Choose what to share

Check which fields the profile can display and decide what is appropriate to include: your name, an emergency contact and any health details you choose to share. Keep the details current and consider who could view the page if they obtain its link. Do not post a personal profile link on social media.

Carry essential information by another means in case a phone is out of power, incompatible or unable to connect to the internet. If you have questions about treatment or documents for your trip, speak with your healthcare professional before setting out.

Spain's official clinical record is separate

Spain's National Health System digital clinical record makes certain documents available to citizens and authorised health professionals, subject to availability. A bracelet profile does not replace that record or guarantee that another person can see your full medical history.

In an emergency

In Spain, the general emergency number is 112. The bracelet is an identification aid; it does not place a call or transmit your location by itself.

You can compare available bracelets and read the guide to using one on the Galician stages before choosing a model.