In Case of Emergency #999 #911 E123

In Case of Emergency – ICE

How many of you have an ICE number in your phone? Do ALL your loved ones?

In Case of Emergency, do you know the value of having an ICE number in your phone or purse? Would the emergency services know how to contact your loved ones?

In Case of Emergency is not just for the holiday season

At this time of year, the emergency services respond to more emergency calls that at any other single time. Unfortunately many of us go out without ID, but in this day and age we nearly all carry our phones!

In cases of emergency, when they can, members of the emergency services look in your phone for an In Case of Emergency or ICE number (i.e. a phone number listed under the name ICE) for the first person to contact. This could be your next of kin, relative or travel buddy if travelling.

If you phone has a lock, then please consider having a graphic or message on the screen showing an ICE contact number, so anyone looking at the phone can see it. there are some great apps for In Case of Emergency, which allow access to specific numbers only, and many include key medical data too. These can be accessed even with the screen lock on!

Please help to encourage mobile phone providers to enable a way of showing ICE number even when the phone is locked (see it not call it) as this literally could save you or your loved ones life

Getting Personal with In case or emergency

This was brought home to some of us last year when a close friend was involved in an accident, and because his phone was locked they could not access the In Case of Emergency (ICE) numbers… but at least he had them…half way there! After several days in intensive care, I am glad to say he is well on the road to full recovery.

As a volunteer medic I have attended many situations over the years where I have had to search for the identity of an individual, often taking an unnamed person into the emergency room, unconscious and alone.

Take personal action

If you have loved ones with phones, please make sure a number is in their phone with the label ICE next to it. If they have smart phones, buy them the apps, or if they are fitness fanatics, but then ICE tags they can wear whilst training. These can be low cost gifts that can literally save the lives!

Call to action for HR & IT teams

If your firm issues mobile phones, make it policy that all phones have these apps as standard

Call to action for Phone manufacturers and network providers

Start adding In case of Emergency functionality to all your services. When you change/ install your own software in handsets, make sure that ICE functionality is included.

ICE or E.123

A language independent variant that is starting to spread is the use of E123 – whichever you opt for – either is better than none!

To find out more about the In case of emergency look at Wikipedia, or the blog of Bob Brotchie the recognised developer of the ICE concept