ICE – In Case of Emergency
ICE is a system endorsed by the emergency services which enables them to identify the person to be told if you are in an accident and cannot communicate. They just look in your mobile phone directory under the letter ‘I’ or look at the card you are carrying.
The idea is that you store the word ‘ICE’ and the name(s) of your contact(s) in your mobile phone directory followed by their phone number exactly as you would enter the name and number of anyone else you would want to contact.
This could read: ICE 1 Mum 01234 56789 and/or ICE 2 Dick 23456 78910 ICE 3 Harry 34567 89112
The Police, Fire or Ambulance Service arrive at the scene and find your phone. They will look in your directory under the letter ‘I’ and lose no time in contacting the right person about your accident if you are unable to speak.
Help the paramedics identify which number(s) to call from amongst all those on your phone. They can find out quickly if you are on any medication or are allergic to any medication and this may save your life.
Parents and grandparents please put ICE numbers in your child’s phone so that of there is an emergency there is no time lost in contacting you.
For those who do not have a phone (or their phone is password protected so the emergency services cannot access its directory) please make sure you have an ICE number in your personal identification documents such as driving licence or on the card. The message is the same to all ages: “Put ICE in your phone, it may help save your life.”
ICE started following the London bombings in 2005 when time was lost in contacting the families of the victims. The idea has spread world wide and is now operating in countries as far apart as America and Australia. But research has shown that the number of phone owners has increased in size and age range, with young school children regularly having a phone in their school bag. The number of older phone users is increasing and they are more likely to need assistance. This scheme is aimed at making all aware of the need to carry an ICE number.
Look at some posts about our support for ICE:
- ICE at Bluewater 4 September 2013
- ICE 31 March 2012