ICE: In Case of Emergency

What this is:

In Case of Emergency (ICE) is a proactive effort designed to provide emergency personnel with ‘next of kin’ contacts via a patient’s mobile/cellular phone in emergency situations within minutes.

ICE is also great because it can help emergency personnel quickly learn your medical history in case you are unconscious or incapacitated.

Examples of situations where ICE would be used:

• Suffering from a heart attack or stroke
• Unconscious from a concussion
• Blacking out/fainting
• Deceased
• Severe allergic reactions
• Joggers or bicyclers not carrying any ID and becoming injured
• Being injured while traveling abroad

ICE is easy to setup. On your cellular phone, add a new contact to your phone book. Enter the letters ‘ICE’  and then type in your contact’s name, followed by their phone number.

Example: ICEjohnsmith 555-555-5555

You can have as many ICE contacts as you prefer, but make sure your contacts are aware and have agreed to be on your emergency contact list, and make sure they stay up-to-date with your medical history and any medications you make be taking.

All smart phones have an application for ICE where you store your medical history, contacts, physician info, etc.