ICE Your Cell Phone
In Case of Emergency
Mobile phone users are being urged to enter a number in their phone's contact list with the acronym ICE, for In Case of Emergency, with a contact person's name and number.
Paramedics or police would be able to swiftly to find the number and use it to reach a relative or friend who could help identify deceased victims and treat injured ones, by providing vital personal information, including details of any medical conditions.
ICE is the brainchild of British paramedic Bob Brotchie, who said the idea came to him "just from reflecting on difficulties I've had in obtaining information about patients. The vast majority of people don't carry emergency contact details or next-of-kin details, but the vast majority of people do carry cell phones.
"Most (paramedics) spend time looking for a cell phone, not knowing who to call. It occurred to me there might be a uniform way of doing this." If you add an entry in the contacts list in your cell phone under ICE, with the name and phone number of the person that the emergency services should call on your behalf, you can save them a lot of time and have your loved ones contacted quickly. It only takes a few moments of your time to make this entry in the contact list of your cell phone.
Paramedics know what ICE means and they look for it immediately. ICE your cell phone NOW!
