ICE Initiative is the "In Case of Emergency" cellular contact. It's really simple. People program numbers into their cell phones under ICE. The number listed is an emergency contact should that person become unable to communicate in the event of an emergency. Some people have more than one ICE. I have 4 listed in my cell.
How many of you utilize this? If you do use it, does it make you feel safer that your family/friends/parents/physican can be contacted quickly?
ICE started in Europe and is taking hold here in the states. I think it is an excellent idea and I now will check a patient's cell phone to see if there is an ICE contact listed. It can be anyone who is familiar with you and your medical history...your mom, dad, spouse, sibling, child, doctor, next door neighbor...anyone. It also works with programmable home phones. The ICE contact can be called using YOUR phone so it's a number the contact will recognize.
What do you all think?
2007-03-13 15:22:01 · 3 answers · asked by emt_me911 7 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
As a Critical Care Paramedic for close to 10 years now, I think ICE is a great idea. But, it does have one downfall - often, people keep their cell phones locked. If someone doesn't know the code, ICE doesn't do any good at all.
Every member of my family utilizes the ICE program. But, all of us also carry a card in our wallet/purse, car, and have one posted on our refrigerators that have our emergency contacts, as well as medical conditions listed on it.
I can tell you from personal experience that 9 times out of 10, say you are involved in a bad car accident, medical personnel are NOT going to waste time looking for a cell phone and then trying to figure out where you have your emergency numbers listed. The first thing we are going to look for is a wallet, purse, or other identification. Another example - you have a medical emergency in your home, medical personnel are again, NOT going to run around your house looking for a cell phone. Most of the time, we are going to look in your kitchen or bathroom for any medications - thus the reasoning in keeping your pertinent emergency contact information and medical conditions posted on your fridge.
ICE is a great thing and I am personally glad to see it being utilized world wide, but it is fallible. A hand/type written card in your wallet, card, or home can never go wrong. I am including several links that have great examples of emergency contact cards for you and your loved ones to use.
Hope this information helps!!
2007-03-13 16:40:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Canada here...my husband and I both have ICE programmed in our phones and my son just got a cell....he'll have it in his too. That will give us all peace of mind.
2007-03-13 22:27:43 · answer #2 · answered by curlyk2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats really a good idea, I like it. However I will put it as Emergency... "ICE" seems to be to easily associated with meth.
2007-03-13 23:10:41 · answer #3 · answered by piemat 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋