ICE your Cell Phone

Hold on, don't head for the freezer just yet!  ICE stands for In Case of Emergency.  Some of the newer smart phones already have an ICE function where you record your emergency contacts, but you don't have to have a pricey phone to make it easier for emergency services responders to reach your emergency contact.  Just add "ICE-" in front of the name of your emergency contact. It costs you nothing but a minute or so of your time could be a lifesaver in an emergency. 

Having an ICE-number in a cell phone is especially important for elderly people and adolescents.    It could also be very important for RVers and other campers who might find themselves in an emergency situation far from home.  Elderly people may be prone to memory problems, especially during the trauma of an emergency situation, and under-age children may need your permission to get treatment.  Emergency services personnel don't need your permission to treat minors with life-threatening emergencies but your child may have to suffer a long time waiting for other treatment, even for painful injuries, if they can't reach you right away. 

The idea for standardizing "In Case of Emergency" contacts in cell phones started with a paramedic in Australia.  Instead of having to search through a cell phone address book hoping to find a listing for "Mom" or "Dad" or "Home" or try to guess which names might be a good emergency contact, having an "ICE-name" in your phone can save a lot of time.  Time might be critical if the victim has some medical condition or allergy that might affect treatment and could greatly speed up treatment for underage patients. 

Be sure to tell your emergency contact that you have designated them as such and provide them with any special medical needs (prior surgeries, medications, allergies, current diseases like cancer, diabetes, hemophilia, or high blood pressure). 

Putting ICE on your cell phone is free and easy and could save your life!  ICEing your cell phone is really a very hot thing to do!

ICE it!