In Case of Emergency

FROM A POST BY THEJODE @ MMBA

I didn't know about this. What a great idea!

Article:
The following is from an article published in the Oakland Press:

People who put the word "ICE" in their personal cell phones are making it easier for physicians and paramedics to contact loved ones in case of emergency.

All you have to do is make a new entry with the name ICE, which stands for "in case of emergency," next to the number you would want called in emergency situations.

"This ICE acronym has seemed to catch on fairly well," says Dr. Frank McGeorge, director of the emergency medical program at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.

Often, emergency providers have difficulty getting in contact with relatives or friends of people involved in accidents, or are unsure of what name to select.

For example, while an entry such as "home" might sound promising, it doesn't do any good if the person lives alone or if their spouse also is involved in an accident. Even "Mom" or "Dad" might not be the best option if parents are elderly, sick or under assisted care. Any of these situations and more would delay contact with the necessary people in an emergency.

While it hasn't become a recommended policy of the American College of Emergency Physicians, McGeorge says this is a trend he hopes continues to grow. He says it is useful in mass casualty situations and can help emergency services get in touch with someone.

In addition to putting "ICE" next to whomever you would like to have contacted, there also are other places on phones to store information. Many cell phones have an option to store text notes, a good spot to record who you would like to be called in case of emergency.

Regardless of where you put it in your phone, McGeorge says it's worth taking the time to do, even if it's never needed. "It's a harmless, simple thing to do," McGeorge says.