ICE Your Phone
Adding an ICE ("In Case of Emergency") contact to your phone can help emergency personnel can locate a friend or family member who can speak on your behalf if you become unconscious or incapacitated. This simple idea was developed by a British paramedic, Bob Brotchie, who recognized the need for speed when emergency personnel need to get information about a patient or contact next of kin.[1] For people with preexisting medical conditions and allergies, in particular, keeping your emergency contact information close at hand could help save your life!
Think about who your emergency contact should be. You should choose emergency contacts who know about any allergies or medical conditions that you may have, and who know how to contact your family. You should also notify anyone that you designate as an emergency contact that you have done so, and make sure they are clear on what information they might need to share to help you in an emergency.
Add an ICE contact to your address book. Open the address book or contacts section on your cell phone and create a new entry with the name ICE. Then add the contact information for your chosen emergency contact. It is also a good idea to enter additional information about the contact, including his or her name and relationship to you under "Notes" or in another unused field.[2]
Some people add a dash or a space after the word "ICE" followed by the person's first name, so that emergency personnel know who they are calling. For instance, you might call the entry "ICE – Sarah" or "ICE – Mr. Smith."
Add a few ICE1 , ICE2, ICE3 in the event that your first ICE is unavailable.
Add an ICE app to a password protected phone. If your phone is password protected and you are incapacitated, an ICE contact won't do any good. Fortunately there are now apps available for Android, Windows, and iPhones that can add emergency contact information to your lock screen. [3]
Search for "ICE" or "ICE lock screen" in your appropriate app store to find one that works on your phone.
Install the app and input the relevant information. An emergency responder can then pick up your phone and access your emergency contact information, even if you are unable to supply the password.
