In Case of Emergency ~ A Public Service Announcement from BDTH

A campaign encouraging people to enter emergency contact numbers in their mobile phone's memory under the heading ICE (In Case of Emergency), is rapidly spreading as a particular consequence of the terrorist attacks in London.

Originally established as a nation-wide campaign in the UK, ICE allows Emergency Response Personnel to be able to contact a designated relative or next-of-kin in an emergency situation.

The idea is the brainchild of East Anglia Ambulance Service paramedic, Bob Brotchie, who launched it in May. Bob, 41, who has been a paramedic for 13 years, said: "I was reflecting on some of the calls I've attended at the roadside where I had to look through the mobile phone contacts struggling for information on a shocked or injured person. Almost everyone carries a mobile phone now, and with ICE we'd know immediately who to contact and what number to ring. The person may even know of their medical history."

By adopting the ICE advice, your mobile can help emergency services quickly contact a relative or close friend, who could provide vital information in an emergency situation. It only takes a few minutes to do, and it could easily help save a life. Simply select persons to contact in case of emergency, enter them under the word 'ICE' and use this format (this is what I did with my phone and Jenne's).

ICE PERSONSNAME RELATIONSHIP (phone number)

Here are some examples of the entries I entered...

ICE Home
ICE Jenne Spouse
ICE Clark Friend
ICE Michael Friend
ICE Richard Brother

I put four to five ICE entries in both of our cell phones in case no one can be reached at the first few numbers. My format is a departure from the ICE 1, ICE 2, etc... format. My format give the emergency worker a name and a relationship to the injured, which is more personal and comforting in an emergency.

Please pass this PSA to those you love. It could be critical to saving your life or theirs.