Thursday, December 14, 2006

The ICE Idea

A recent article from the Toronto Star, "The ICE Idea", is catching on and it is a very simple, yet important method of contact for you or a loved one in the case of an emergency. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is program the number of a contact person or persons and store the name as "ICE".

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when they went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which numbers to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name to file 'next of kin' under.

Following a disaster in London the East Anglican Ambulance Service has launched a national "IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (ICE)" campaign. The idea is that you store the word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and with it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". In an emergency situation, emergency services personnel and hospital staff would then be able to quickly contact your next of kin, by simply dialing the number programmed under "ICE".

Please forward this. It won't take too many forwards before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!

Well, i'm not sure how this "really could save my life," but it's a good idea, just the same.
This would also be a good time to thank the nice Albion Ferry workers for dialling "dad" and leaving a message when my sister left her cell phone on the ferry.
Also, this is a good defense for why i programmed my number into JM's phone under "My Honey." Teehee.

3 comments:

anika said...

Hm.
I think I'm just going to leave it to their intelligent minds to figure out that 'mom' might be a good try. And certainly not 'hairless cat' or 'clum' or any of those other creatively named ones ...
Although I do think my husband should get a cell phone again.

Christine said...

First referencing above: Gah, Anika, husband! The cuteness.

And that is a smart idea, but I bet locally no one would know to call ICE down here. Maybe I should just enter in EMERGENY CONTACT. In all caps.

Rockstar Mom said...

Like Ani, I think Mom or Dad is a good place to start.