What's my phone number? WhistleOut finds 1.5 million Aussies don't know
“What’s your number?” isn’t just a pick-up line for a handsome stranger. It can be an essential part of signing up for a mobile plan, making connections, or even helping EMTs make medical decisions.
Yet despite its importance, a new WhistleOut survey suggests more than 1.5 million Aussies don’t know their phone number. Even more distressingly, 3.5 million don’t have any emergency contact details memorised.
...Uh-oh.
Why do so many people not know their own mobile numbers?
Easy contact sharing, instant messaging apps, and even plain old age can play a role in keeping your phone number mysterious. Plus, we no longer have to dial landlines, so what’s the point of memorising someone’s number?
It turns out many Aussies don’t see one. Most (53%) of the survey respondents who didn’t know their own number were under 34 years old. The majority of adults with zero contacts memorised were also either under 34 (31.5%) or over 54 (36%).
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Luckily, this means most Aussies can rattle off at least one number off the top of their head. Over half (55%) of survey respondents claimed to have two to five emergency contacts memorised, while 19.5% had at least one memorised. A minority of boffins (3.5%) even had over ten numbers memorised. Safety first!
And that’s what it boils down to: safety. Nearly 80% of respondents reckoned not knowing an emergency contact could be problematic, and EMTs agree.
NSW paramedic Dominic Ezard explained in an interview with WhistleOut that every second counts when treating medical emergencies, and having access to a patient’s medical history (or someone who knows it) makes a world of difference.
“The more information, the better,” Ezard states. “Having access to information saves us time and can speed up the process.”
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Knowing your phone number can also help emergency services get to you in the first place, since they can locate your device even if the call cuts out or your battery dies.
Of course, not everything goes right in a medical emergency. A patient could be unconscious, distressed, or may not even have their phone handy. But an ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure.
Ezard suggests:
- Setting up your Medical ID on your lock screen.
- Writing down your list of emergency contacts and keeping it in your wallet.
- Get across your medical history so you can quickly explain it to paramedics.
It’s also worthwhile chatting with your emergency contacts now so they know any critical information later.
You can find your phone number through your card in your Contacts app or under Settings. Alternatively, download the What is My Number app or browse the webpage, and it’ll automatically detect your number.
FAQs
How do you find out your phone number on an Apple iPhone?
To find out your mobile phone number on an iPhone, either look in Contacts > My Card, or under Settings > Apple ID [often abbreviated as your name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email. Your phone number should be displayed in both locations.
How do you find out your phone number on Android?
To find out your mobile phone number on Android, go to Settings > About Phone/About Device > Status/SIM card status. Scroll down to the bottom, where your number should be displayed.
How do you find out your phone number on a Google Pixel?
To find out your mobile phone number on a Google Pixel, swipe up to display all apps then go to Settings > About Phone > View phone number.
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