ICE - In Case of Emergency
Eight
out of ten people aren’t carrying information
that would help if they were involved in an accident.
Storing next-of-kin details in your mobile phone can
assist the emergency services if you’re unable
to tell them who to contact.
How does it
work?
Simply use your mobile’s phone book to store
the name and number of someone who should be contacted
if you have an emergency – but add the letters
ICE in front of their name.
ICE
stands for ‘In Case of Emergency’: it’s
what the emergency services will look for if you’re
involved in an accident and have your mobile phone
with you. This straightforward idea was developed
by the East Anglian Ambulance Trust and is supported
by Vodafone.
Getting started
On most mobile phones you simply need to select ‘Contacts’
and choose ‘Add New Contact’, then enter
the letters ‘ICE’ next to the name, followed
by the telephone number of your next of kin. Make
sure you choose a number that’s easy to get
in touch with – a home number could be useless
in an emergency if the person works full time. We
recommend that you enter daytime and evening numbers
where this is possible.
What
should I do next?
Make sure the person whose name and number you are
giving has agreed to be your ‘ICE partner’.
You should also make sure your ICE partner has a list
of people to contact on your behalf, such as your
place of work. In addition, they’ll need to
know about any medical conditions that could affect
your emergency treatment, including allergies or medication.
If you’re under 18, your ICE partner should be your mother, your father or an immediate member of your family authorised to make decisions on your behalf. Friends and other relatives won’t be able to make decisions for you if you’re admitted to hospital.
Storing an ICE number makes it easier for everyone if you’re involved in an accident. It only takes a few seconds, so do it today - please.