Page 1 of ICE .. not in car entertainment, but a really good idea

This was forwarded to me: I think it`s a really good idea, especially given yesterdays events

East Anglian Ambulance Service have launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign with the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston and in association with Vodafone`s annual life savers award.

The idea is that you store the word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them.

It`s so simple - everyone can do it. Please do. Please will you also forward this to everybody in your address book, it won`t take too many forwards` before everybody will know about this.

There`s a valid link at http://www.eastanglianambulance.com/content/news/newsdetail.asp?newsID=646104183 and you can google for it

Click here. YOU ARE THE SEARCH ENGINE!

I got that mail yesterday - you can also put in ICE2, ICE3, ICE4, etc numbers for more than one point of contact.

Cheers

Si



Our Collection (including the ones that belong to the kids!)

`I have something to say. It`s better to burn out than to fade away.`

It`s not a bad idea, but not really necessary, and not everyone would cotton onto what it stood for. I work for a bus company and I regularly find lost mobile phones on them, it`s not hard to get in touch with someone who knows the person.

A quick flick through the phonebook will find entries like:

Home, Mam, Dad, Bro, Girlfriend, Wifey, Work, any of which can easily get you in touch. I`ve returned lots of phones to (often less than thankful) owners that way.

If word gets about well enough about what it stands for, them it will be a good idea.

I think it`s a great idea - I also think entries for "DONOR" and "BLOOD" with Y, N and blood group following would be good.

Yeah most phones would have "Home" - but what about people who live alone or have no landline, "Mum/Dad" is fine for people who actually have living parents, and no-one actually has "Wife" or "Brother" as the entry - it`s "Jenny" or "Steve", along with dozens of other firstnames that make up the contacts list.

A publicised campaign would increase uptake of the ICE scheme, but may also make sure that people have emergency contact info in any way.

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www.soundalikes.com/ (Version 2. Updated 8/4/05)

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and no-one actually has "Wife" or "Brother" as the entry - it`s "Jenny" or "Steve", along with dozens of other firstnames that make up the contacts list.

Actually, no they do, maybe it depends what part of the country you`re from. I know quite a few people who have entries for Bro, Wifey in their phone book, which is why I included them (and no it`s not something I`d do as I think it sounds a bit male chauvanistic).

Another point which I`ve come across which would render any scheme useless is people who have their phone locked, so you can`t access it, and the other common thing...the battery going flat.

But as I said, it is a good idea in principle, so long as it`s widespread enough that people know what ICE means.

I have this on my mobile as do my immediate family.
Like the article says on that site, although `mum` might be in the phone book of a mobile, not everyone would want mum contacted in an emergency.
And if this does get around... like it seems to be doing, everyone or the mass majority would probably know what it stood for anyways. Or you could fit InCaseOfEmerg or so in the name part.
Tis a good idea.

Christ. Much more obvious and sensible, of course, would be just to put a contact called "1-Emergency Contact") which means that
A) It appears at the top by virtue of the "1-" prefix
B) Somebody who finds you lying in a street doesn`t have to have received these emails and/or have a sixth sense to know who to call.

I heard about this and was astounded to find out that it`s true - http://www.eastanglianambulance.com/content/news/newsdetail.asp?newsID=646104183. The Ambulance Service did a great job last week, and no offence to them, or anybody that has forwarded it and thought "what a great idea", but it does seem to assume that the ambulance service (or whoever finds you and has the decency and sense to look through your phone to contact somebody) are too stupid to realise "1-Call in emerg" means in your contacts list on the phone, but are "savvy" enough to know that ICE means "In Case of Emergency." This really is a silly fad in my opinion designed to make a "war hero" look like a "really nice bloke", and provide some free advertising for Vodafone, trying to cash in on a disaster.

"Vodafone spokesperson Ally Stevens said: "The Life Savers Awards already demonstrate, through practical example, the important role a mobile phone can play when minutes matter in an emergency."

So next time you find somebody lying in the street, don`t dial 999 like any normal, sensible, rational human being would. Just remember. ICE.

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So next time you find somebody lying in the street, don`t dial 999 like any normal, sensible, rational human being would. Just remember. ICE.

OMFG I never would have thought of dialling 999! :¦

This scheme has been going on since before the London bombings anyway, it`s just got people thinking more about contacting their family in an emergency.

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www.soundalikes.com/ (Version 2. Updated 8/4/05)

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So next time you find somebody lying in the street, don`t dial 999 like any normal, sensible, rational human being would. Just remember. ICE.That I don`t think is the point of ICE... it would be for hospitals or the police to quickly establish contact with the next of kin!
I for one think it`s a flippin` good idea. I would wanna think was I involved in an emergency my family could be contacted quickly. I don`t always carry ID, but I have rarely left the house without my mobile phone.

Very eloquently written Jemson. Do you also think that Vodafone could be using this as a way of marketing themselves (if I may be so cynical to ask)?

xfilesgurly, i can only assume you misread. Either that or completely misunderstood. Read the comments more carefully.

Sittingpretty, you`ve missed the vodafone extract in your reply. The point is that vodafone are feeding totally obvious (and in the quote provided, irrelevant) information to gain publicity, which is what this whole ICE charade is really about

This item was edited on Tuesday, 12th July 2005, 17:23