In Case of an Emergency

Cell phones are a hot item.

Not in the sense that every one wants one. has one, needs one, or needs an upgrade.

You can surely get them with built in cameras, voice recorders, planners, games, and with

two-way radios. You can also get them in your favorite colors, with your favorite style, and of course, with your favorite songs as ring tones.

No, cell phones are hot for another reason. Cell phones are starting to come with ICE.

Now, before you think that you need to have your eyes checked, let me make things crystal clear.

ICE is an acronym that means In Case of Emergency- and it is being promoted by various public safety agencies to assist them in locating next of kin for accidents and emergencies.

What happens is this:

An individual programs into their cell phone the term ICE followed by a name, such as ICE Tom or ICE – Wilma, and attaches Tom or Wilma’s phone number to that term.

If you should need emergency medical attention and cannot speak, paramedics or hospital staff can locate the ICE number and contact the designated person to alert them to your emergency needs.

This idea is being promoted by some law enforcement agencies and some medical staff, who often have trouble identifying next of kin for unconscious individuals who need medical attention, but have no other identifying information accessible.

The idea was started by Bob Brotchie of the East Anglian Ambulance service in London, and became a hot topic after the July 7th, 2005 bombings recently experienced in that city conducted by Al Qaeda. Agencies from several countries began using this system, to help identify the lost or challenged as apart of preparedness for potential terrorism.

After the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11th, 2001, several next of kin contact groups were formed. The most famous of these is the National Next of Kin Registry, which has been helpful in reconnecting disjointed families after the hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

According to the Center for Disease Control, some 1 million persons a year

arrive at hospital emergency rooms unconscious. This overwhelming number is made up of all kinds of persons- children, adults, elderly who may be driving, walking, or persons performing other tasks alone. This so-called John/Jane Doe syndrome is common place, and is amplified in a major catastrophe.

Nearly 200,000 people die a year in emergency rooms as a result of misdiagnosis or medical error. This is a result of not having good contact information quickly enough.

The familiar images of networks showing make shift community boards at disaster scenes, with family members posting picture with inscriptions saying “Missing loved one, please call the following number…” has indelibly been imprinted on our memories.

This has prompted at least 2 states, California and Illinois, to pass legislation to require hospitals to notify next of kin.

ICE is a good way to add a layer of protection for yourself should you become injured with no ID or next-of-kin information. But it is just a start.

You may also wish to register with the National Next of Kin Register at www.NOKR.org, and down load a free medical id from www.medids.com, which is a medical id for your wallet.

Stay safe by giving medical professionals a fighting chance to reach your loved ones right away.