I.c.e I have received this email a few times over the last few weeks and I think it's a fabulous idea... Subject: ICE "In Case of Emergency" - PLEASE READ The following message is a great idea and could easily make the difference between life and death. Pass the message on to others. Ladies & Gentlemen, At this time when those of us in London are witnessing yet another instance of large numbers of casualties as a result of terrorist activity and the frustration of people as they try to contact friends and relatives who have gone missing, this scheme is simple but can be very effective. Please take a few minutes to read the attached article about a campaign being launched nationally by the East Anglia Ambulance Service in conjunction with the Falklands veteran Simon Weston. To participate will cost nothing, only take a few minutes of reading and entering a telephone number into your mobile, but it could save hours or even days of heartache. The idea is that you store the word " I C E " in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". For more than one contact name ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc In an emergency situation police, ambulance, other first responders and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. It's so simple that everyone can do it. Please will you also email this to everybody in your address book, it won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved ones mind at rest. Let's hope that you don't need to use it!! A Cambridge-based paramedic has launched a national campaign with Vodafone to encourage people to store emergency contact details in their mobile phones. Bob Brotchie, a clinical team leader for the East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust, hatched the plan last year after struggling to get contact details from shocked or injured patients. By entering the acronym ICE - for In Case of Emergency - into the mobile's phone book, users can log the name and number of someone who should be contacted in an emergency. The idea follows research carried out by Vodafone that shows more than 75 per cent of people carry no details of who they would like telephoned following a serious accident. Bob, 41, who has been a paramedic for 13 years, said: "I was reflecting on some of the calls I've attended at the roadside where I had to look through the mobile phone contacts struggling for information on a shocked or injured person. "It's difficult to know who to call. Someone might have "mum" in their phone book but that doesn't mean they'd want them contacted in an emergency. "Almost everyone carries a mobile phone now, and with ICE we'd know immediately who to contact and what number to ring. The person may even know of their medical history." The campaign was launched this week by Bob and Falklands war hero Simon Weston in association with Vodafone's annual Life Savers Awards. Vodafone spokesperson Ally Stevens said: "The Life Savers Awards already demonstrate, through practical example, the important role a mobile phone can play when minutes matter in an emergency. "By adopting the ICE advice, your mobile will now also help the rescue services quickly contact a friend or relative - which could be vital in a life or death situation." The campaign is also asking people to think carefully about who will be their ICE partner - with helpful advice on who to choose - particularly if that person has to give consent for emergency medical treatment. Bob hopes that all emergency services will promote ICE in their area as part of a national awareness campaign to highlight the importance of carrying next of kin details at all times. He said the idea was for the benefit of loved ones as well as the patient. Research suggests people recover quicker from the psychological effects of their loved one being hurt if they are involved at an earlier stage and they can reach them quickly," he added. He said he hoped mobile phone companies would now build the ICE contact into future models, adding: "It's not a difficult thing to do. As many people say they carry mobile phones in case of an emergency, it seems natural this information should be kept there." My sister was in a car accident recently, unfortunately she didn't have her mobile on her, and as she is intellectually handicapped, she had difficulty remembering any phone numbers. It took nearly 8 hours for our mum to be contacted and told about what had happened and that was thanks to a stranger visiting another patient who was willing to go home and do some detective work with the information that my sister was able to provide. I.C.E would have made it a lot easier and less worrying for all involved. After 24 hours hour in hospital, a concussion and quite a few stitches in her head she was allowed home.
I think this is a wonderful idea! I'd like to see this in the U.S. It's simple. We tagged a number in our cell phones after reading this. When my kids were old enough to go to concerts or other events without parental units I had dog tags made for them. Everyone thought they were cool so my kids would wear them. I thought if anything happened at least they had some emergency info on their person. I've always worried about being notified quickly if they were in shock or unconscious.
Firstly, glad to hear your sister is okay. That was a brill idea to post the email on here. I hadn't considered ICE before, as I hadn't heard of it. It's fab! I'm going to do it right now. Thanks Sylla for bringing it to my attention.
